60 Men To Leave Aug. 18
Get Two Week Furlough
The following 60 registrants have been sent orders to report for Army Examination on August 18th. These men will be sent for examination and if qualified, sworn in and given two weeks furlough before being sent to reception center for actual induction.
…..
1599 Franken, Dries, Luverne, Minn.
…..
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 13, 1942 p 1
December Draft Call Sets Record
The following named registrants have been ordered to report for Army examination on Dec. 8th. If they are found qualified for army service they will return for a week’s furlough before being called for active duty.
…..
1599 Franken, Dries, Luverne, Minn.
…..
Source: Sioux County Capital Dec. 3, 1942 p 1
Draft Board Classifies More Sioux Registrants
The following classifications were made by the Sioux County Local Board of Selective Service at their meeting on Dec. 16, 1942:
…..
Class 1-C
…..; Dries Franken, Sioux Center; …..
Source: Sioux County Index Dec. 24, 1942 p 2
The following group are now located in Fort Knox, Ky. These boys all left Sioux County together in the December call: Berton Eisma, Ireton; Lloyd Kots, Maurice; Dries Franken, Sioux Center; Henry Huitink, Orange City; Peter Hibma, Hull; Edward Jansen, Sioux Center.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 31, 1942 p 8
(Contributor’s note: The last name of the last person above was spelled Pansen in the paper, but further research yielded the correction to Jansen.)
Pvt. Dries Franken, son of Gt. H. Franken is now at Ft. Knox, Ky. and this is his address:
Co. C. 18 A.F.R.T.C.
Fort Knox, Ky.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 31, 1942 p 8
22 Boys In Armed Forces From 7 Local Families
Six Sioux Center families have three boys in the U. S. Armed Forces, and one family has four boys serving their country.
Mr. and Mrs. Arie Franken have son Joe in the navy, Henry and Everette in the army. Joe enlisted in the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor and has been in action in the Solomons.
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Schiebout have three sons in the army, Abe, Joe, and Ferdinand. Mr. and Mrs. John Vogel have three sons in the army, Harry, LeRoy, and William.
Lester, Peter and Marvin Van Muyden, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Case Van Muyden are all in the army. Lester has been overseas for many months, located in Australia.
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Mouw have two sons in the army, Lawrence and Steven, and Harold is in the navy.
Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit H. Franken have three sons in army, Louis, Dries and Everett.
The John Kroon family is represented by four sons in the service, three of whom are overseas. Richard and Bert are in the army, now in North Africa, Henry John is on the sea, a member of the U. S. Navy, and Billy is still at Gt. Lakes Naval Station.
There are undoubtedly more families who have three sons in the service and the News would be pleased to know them.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 18, 1943, p 10
Pvt. Henry Moss came home for a short visit Saturday from Fort Knox, Kentucky, also Pvt. Egbert Bonestroo and Pvt. Dries Franken.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 25, 1943 p 9
Pvt. Dries Franken enjoyed a furlough with his wife and baby and his parents Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Franken Saturday. Other guests at the Franken home were their children Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Van Batavia and twin sons of Edgerton, Minn. Pvt. Franken is stationed at Fort Knox, Ky.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 4, 1943 p 9
Feb. 28, 1943
Dear Editor: I want to thank you for sending me your paper. I enjoy reading it very much. We get to hear of the folks back home. I am feeling fine and I hope the same for everybody at home. The weather is fair out here, some days it gets a little chilly. The sun shines most of the time here now.
I like the army life fine here. I am in the tank division. I drove trucks this past week. We had a very busy week out on the driving range all week and 3 nights until 12 and get up at 5:30 in the morning. We fire all the guns that they have here. We don’t get much time to write letters this past week. I want to thank everybody that has sent me letters. I try to answer them when I get time. I have four more weeks of basic training left then where we go to I don’t know. We had a three-day pass at the end of our eighth week of training and I was home then. There were a lot of boys from Sioux county home then. We did not have much time but it was worth it to see the folks back home. It would be nice if the war was over so we could stay home.
I will close now and we hope and pray that we all may return home soon.
My address is:
Pvt. Dries Franken 37466766
Co. C. 18th Bn. A.F.R.T.C.
Fort Knox, Ky., U.S. Army
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 11, 1943 p 2
Change of Address
Pvt. Dries Franken 37466766
Co. H. 33rd Arm’d Regt.
APO 253, c.o. Postmaster
Indiantown Gap, Penn.
Mil. Res.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 22, 1943 p 10
(Excerpt of letter from Cpl. Louis G. Franken)
“My best regards to all at Sioux Center, and Grandpa and Grandma Franken. Hello bros. Dries and Everett, how is trucks up where you are at by now.”
Source: Sioux Center News May 27, 1943 p 6
Pvt. Dries Franken arrived home last Monday evening for a ten-day furlough with his wife and baby daughter Donna Faye.
Source: Sioux Center News June 17, 1943 p 2
Address Change
Pvt. Dries Franken 37466766
Co. H. 33rd Arm’d Regt.
APO 253 c.o. Postmaster
New York City, New York
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 16, 1943 p 10
Dries Franken writes from somewhere in England
Dear Editor: Nov. 7, 1943
I have received a few of your papers so far. The last one was published in September. They are a month or two old but still are new to me and I enjoy reading them. I hope that they keep coming. It is nice to read the letters the boys write that you put in the paper. In that way you can keep up with them and know where a lot of the boys are.
I am sitting on my bunk writing you this letter and my bed is not like the bed I had back home. I always get a good night’s sleep and that is what counts. I hope that the war will soon be over. Because there is nothing like home sweet home.
There are some of the Sioux county boys here with me that came with me when we left Sioux County, and we are all in the best of health, and hope the same for everyone back home. There are more boys frm Sioux County here, but I don’t know just where they are located. I had a letter of one of the boys the other day. I may take a pass sometime and meet him in some town, then we can find out where he stays. I have not been out on pass yet. I figure on going to London if I can get a pass. I have seen a lot of England already and may still see a lot more of it before it is all over with. I am hoping for the day when we can go on the boat again that will take us back to the States.
I want to thank you for sending me the paper. Please keep sending it to me at this address, and I want to thank everyone that has been writing to me and hope that they keep it up. I don’t get time to answer all the letters I get. But will try to answer them once in a while.
Wishing each and all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hoping to see you soon. A friend,
Pfc. Dries Franken 37466766
APO 253, c.o. Postmaster,
New York City, New York
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 2, 1943 p 3
In Mule Pack
(photo)
CPL. LOUIS G. FRANKEN
Cpl. Louis G. Franken entered the service in May 1942. He is in the mule pack stationed at Camp Carson, Colorado. He has had one furlough in Dec. 1943. His address is:
H.S. Btry. 609 F. A. Bn.
APO 360
Camp Carson, Colorado
Tank Division
(photo)
CPL. DRIES FRANKEN
Cpl. Dries Franken entered the service in Dec. 1942. He is in the tank division. Dries left the states in Dec. 1943 and is now in England.
Air Corps Ground Crew
SGT. EVERETT FRANKEN
Sgt. Everett Franken entered the service in Jan. 1943. He is in the ground crew of the army air force. He has just been sent overseas recently. His parents have not heard as yet where he is. He was promoted to a Sgt. instead of Lieut. as stated in last week’s issue of the News.
Pictured here are the three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit H. Franken of Sioux Center, two of whom are overseas.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 20, 1944 p 1
Excerpt of a letter from Cpl. Gerald F. Calsbeek
“Haven’t seen many Hull boys over here. Met Dries Franken a few weeks back. Sure spent a big day together, which sure makes one feel good, to talk to one he knows.”
Source: Sioux County Index May 4, 1944 p 5
Pfc. Dries Franken, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gt. H. Franken, writes to the News from somewhere in France:
Dear Ed: 29 June, 1944
I have just received two of your papers in the last two days. The first papers to reach me in France. I enjoy reading it very much. The first thing I do is turn to the soldier’s page and see where they are at.
The Climate is very much like back home at this time of the year. And right now, it is raining. The climate is different than in England. There it was cold and damp most of the time.
I am in the best of health and I hope the same for everyone back home.
My mail is coming in very good here and I appreciate all the letters that I get. I do not get time to answer all the letters I receive. I want to thank everyone that writes to me.
This is all I have to write at present. We hope and pray that the war may soon come to an end, and that we may return home in the best of health.
Thanks a lot for sending the paper. As ever,
Dries
Source: Sioux Center News July 13, 1944 p 1
WOUNDED IN ACTION
Cpl. Dries Franken, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit H. Franken, has been reported wounded in action in France. His parents received the telegram on Monday morning, August 21. A letter arrived from him on the same day, telling them that he has been injured in the shoulder and was also suffering from shrapnel burns. He wrote that he was taken from France to England by plane but did not think he would be there very long, which his parents take to mean that the injuries were not too serious and he no doubt will be sent back to France soon. This letter was dated August 11. Dreis is married to the former Dorothy Marra, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tunis Marra of near Hull, with whom she and her daughter are now making their home.
His address is:
Cpl. Dries Franken
4180 Hospital Plant WS/7
APO 115, c/o Postmaster
New York City, N.Y.
Source: The Sioux Center News, Thursday, August 31, 1944 (photo included)
BACK ON DUTY
Dries Franken, who was slightly wounded recently in France, writes that he is back in action again, according to a letter received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit H. Franken the past week. Everett G., who is in Italy has recently been promoted to Staff Sergeant and Louis who is in Georgia has been promoted to Sgt. T/4.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 21, 1944 p 1
Pfc. Dries Franken, who was wounded a short while ago, is back on duty again according to word received by his wife last week. He has a change of address which is on file in the News office.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 28, 1944 p 2
Dries Franken writes from Germany
Dear Ed: 14 Oct. 1944
How are things going along back home? I am in the best of health and hope the same for everyone back home. The weather here at present is about like what we have back home when the farmers start to pick corn. It is rather chilly here in the morning, and we often have rain.
I am back with my old outfit again. And things are not so pleasant at times. We sleep in fox holes most of the time and I also have spent many nights sitting in the seat of the tank when we are on the front. It sure felt good to get in one of them soft beds in the hospital, even if I had to get wounded to do so. I hope that I never get hit again. I hope and pray that this war may soon end. A lot of people figured that the Germans would not fight on their own soil, so did I. But now that we are in Germany, it don’t look like it will end so soon.
I want to thank you for sending me the paper, I enjoy reading it. I also want to thank everyone that has written me, I appreciate all the letters that I get. May God bless us till we meet again. Best wishes to all, Dries
Sgt. Dries Franken 37466766
APO 253, c/o Postmaster
New York, N. Y.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 30, 1944 p 2
In English Hospital
(photo)
SGT. DRIES FRANKEN
Sgt. Dries Franken, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit H. Franken, wrote that he spent Christmas Day travelling in a hospital train in England, that he had received second degree burns but he doesn’t say how. Some months ago he had been slightly wounded in action, but had recovered and was back on duty again. He said he is “feeling fine aside from the burns and there is no need for his parents to worry”. His hospital address is 4194 U.S.A. H.P., APO 507, c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan 11, 1945 p 1
The daily papers of Tuesday, March 13th contained among other casualties the name of Dries Franken as wounded in action. He is the husband of Mrs. Dorothy Franken of Hull, the former Dorothy Marra.
Source: Sioux County Index Mar. 15, 1945 p 8
Sgt. Dries Franken writes from Europe. He is back in action again after having been wounded a second time.
Dear Friends: 5 March, 1945
I should have written before. It is just like my brother wrote, put things off too easy until tomorrow. I don’t
think that I am as bad as what he is, because most of the time I write him two, or three letters before I get an answer from him.
I want to thank you for the paper that you have been sending me. I received two January issues today, and they are the first that I have received in seven months. I know that you have been sending it to me. But I have not received it since I have been wounded the first time. It must have gotten lost through the mail after I started moving around again and it takes a long time for it to come after you start moving from one address to another. Being that you are sending it first class now I may get it more regular. I enjoy reading it. You know more what is going on back the old home town. And also know where most of the service men and women are. Thanks again.
I am in the best of health again, and hope the same for everyone back home. I have recently left the hospital and have been moved to this address for the time being. I also had a seven-day furlough, which we get the hard way. We get them after being wounded twice and in the hospital in England. I had a very nice time on my furlough, and I spent it in Manchester.
I want to thanks all those who have sent me Christmas gifts and cards. I had received only a few Christmas packages before the Germans made that counter-attack in December, when we were called upon to help break it up, and the result was that they sent me to the hospital soon after. I am thankful that I can write you this letter. I know that I have a lot of packages on the way, that is if they did not get lost, or captured by the enemy. And it may take a long time before they reach me. I will write a letter of thanks to those who have sent me a package when I receive them, so that you will know if I got them or not. Thanks again to all of you. I hope that this may soon end and that we can do away with all this, and be back home with our loved ones.
I am thanking each and every one for everything that they have done for me. And may this year bring peace.
Your friend, Dries
Source: Sioux Center News March 22, 1945 p 2
Sgt. Dries Franken has this new address: 37466766, 4137 U.S.A. H.P., APO 152, c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 19 1945 p 12
Sgt. Dries Franken has this change of address: 37466766, Co. B. 703rd T.D. Bn., APO 758, c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y.
Source: Sioux Center News July 19, 1945 p 2
ARRIVED IN STATES
(photo)
SGT. DRIES FRANKEN
Mr. and Mrs. Gt. H. Franken received a telegraph on Monday from their son Sgt. Dries Franken stating that he had arrived in the States on Sunday. He has enough points for a discharge and hopes to arrive home soon. Sgt. Franken is married to the former Dorothy Marra, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tunis Marra, and they have one daughter.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 20, 1945 p 2
SGT. DRIES FRANKEN
Sgt. Dries Franken arrived home on Monday after two years in Europe. Monday was his 29th birthday anniversary also. His wife, the former Dorothy Marra, and three-year-old daughter Donna met him in Sioux City.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 27, 1945 p 2
Sioux Center Servicemen Resume Civilian Activities
RETURN TO BUSINESSES, FARMS AND COLLEGES
The following list includes some of the Sioux Center Servicemen who have been discharged and have found a place for themselves again in the civilian world after being absent for a long period of time while in the service of our country.
…..
Dries Franken is back on his farm which is located five miles north of Steen, Minn. the place he left when he was called into the service.
…..
Source: Sioux Center News Nov 29, 1945 p 1
