Martha Hogan, Mrs. Eddie Jansen and Mrs. Steve Kramer left by train from Hawarden on Monday morning for Holland, Mich. where they plan to look for work.
Source: Sioux Center News March 2, 1944, p 4
Draft News
The following have been reclassified at the recent meeting of the local county draft board:
… Kramer, Steven, 1A to 1C Ind.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 9, 1944, p 1
Here is the new address of Steve Kramer A/S who entered the service recently. Steve Kramer A/S Co. U.S.N.T.S. Farragut, Idaho
Source: Sioux Center News March 9, 1944, p 8
Steven Kramer, A/S entered the service recently and here is his Navy address: Co. 273-44, Camp Scott, U.S.N.T.S., Farragut, Idaho.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 16, 1944, p 3
Mrs. Steven Kramer and Miss Muriel Hogan who have been working at Holland, Mich. for the past several weeks arrived at the parental Sy Hogan home early Sunday morning to spend a two-week vacation with them and also with Steven Kramer who came home Sunday on a 15-day leave from his duties with the U. S. Navy at Farragut, Idaho.
Source: Sioux Center News April 20, 1944, p 8
Mrs. Steve Kramer and Miss Muriel Hogan returned to their work at Holland, Mich. by train on Saturday morning after spending a two-week visit at the parental Sy Hogan home during which time Steve Kramer was home on furlough from the navy at Farragut, Idaho.
Mrs. Hogan and Mrs. Gerrit Kempers accompanied the girls back to Holland to spend a two week visit with relatives and friends.
Source: Sioux County Capital May 4, 1944, p 6
Steve Kramer Writes From Farragut, Idaho:
Dear Editor: Well, how is everyone back home? I’m in the best of health and I am eating good. The Navy chow is really good. But of course you always find some guys who are always kicking about something. But as they say in the Navy, “if you aren’t kicking about something you aren't healthy”. I guess I’m not very healthy. They do treat us very good here. At first if a guy wanted something like chow or so they would practically throw it at us, but now we are getting so good we can catch it, its quite often hash, that’s why we try our best to stop it.
As you noticed on my address, I’m still in Farragut. I’ll be here for four more months because I’m going to Electrician Mate School. I applied for something else, but got this, so I’ll just have to try to keep from “going over the hill”. We have well attended church services here.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who wrote and sent me Easter cards, I didn’t have time to answer all of them, but I’ll try. But keep writing. I surely appreciate them. I won’t be able to write so much now because I expect to be kept pretty busy in school for 4 months.
Thanks for all your prayers and keep praying and may God bring a speedy peace back to this earth. I get the Sioux Center News in good shape so keep sending it, Marie. My new address is: Steven Kramer S 2/c U.S.N.T.C. E.M. Sec. 103, Camp Peterson Farragut, Idaho
Source: Sioux Center News May 18, 1944, p 2
Mrs. Steven Kramer and Miss Muriel Hogan left from Grand Rapids, Mich. on Monday morning for Farragut, Idaho where Steven Kramer is stationed. Steven will attend school there for at least five months and the ladies will work in Seattle.
Source: Sioux Center News May 25, 1944, p 2
Steven Kramer, who is with the Navy and who has been stationed at Seattle, Wash. for some time, arrived home on Saturday evening to spend a short leave with his family and friends here. Mrs. Kramer and her sister Miss Muriel Hogan who have been working in Seattle while he was stationed there also came home with him and they plan to remain at the parental Sy Hogan home now as Steven expects to leave the states soon. Steven Kramer was recently promoted to Fireman 1st class. He expects to leave for sea duty shortly after his leave.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 21, 1944, p 2
Navy Machinist (photo) STEVE KRAMER
Steve Kramer left for the service in the navy on Feb. 27, 1944, and is at the present time at Bremerton, Wash. where he will attend night school for the study of machinist mate. He has had two leaves and left here again on Sept. 20 after his last leave. His wife, the former Alma Hogan, is planning to leave for Washington on Friday morning to be with her husband while he is stationed there.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 12, 1944, p 1
F 1/c (E.M.) Steven Kramer is now at Treasure Island. Mrs. Kramer is residing at Long Beach, Calif.
Source: Sioux County Capital Nov. 30, 1944, p 7
In Philippine Landing (photo) STEVEN KRAMER
F 1/c (E.M.) Steven Kramer, F 1/c (E.M.), who is in the navy and stationed on a U. S. Destroyer has written that he took part in activities around Leyte and in some of the recent landings in the Philippine Islands also. His address is on file at the News office.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 11, 1945, p 9
Steve Kramer F 1/c recently received 100 letters in two days. He has been in the South China Sea but is now in the West Pacific.
Source: Sioux County Capital Feb. 15, 1945, p 7
Steven Kramer Writes from Somewhere in West Pacific (photo)
Dear Ed and Marie: 1/28/45 Well, it has been some time since I have written you. Since then things have changed quite a bit, at least for me and for quite a few other guys. But before I go any farther, I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have written me and sent me birthday and Christmas cards. A person doesn’t really realize what just a card, or even better a letter, means to a guy out here. Thanks for all the cards. Boy, if anything is a boost for your morale is when you get about 50 letters at a time, then when about 20 of them are from your dear wife, boy that makes a guy feel good. So if I don’t get to answer all the cards and letters, don’t think it’s not because I don’t want to, but we don’t always have too much time, especially at times. You know there is a war going on, as we say once in a while when a guy starts to complain.
When I left the States it gave me a queer feeling when I went under the Golden Gate bridge, but in times like that you get strength from above. Well, after we were out a day or two, most of the guys got that yellow-green look on their faces, which is called “sea-sickness”. It’s like this, the fish share your food then. Well, you go down to chow, you probably got hamburger for dinner, it looks good too and you say here’s where I eat a good meal, and you start eating. You look around you. There a guy stands, he looks sort of green around the gills. Well, you eat about half your meal, and then it’s your turn to start turning that green. About by the time you empty the rest of your tray and hit for the top side. You walk a fast walk over to the rail, hang over the side and the fish get hamburger for dinner too. It’s quite a fight, you see the idea is to keep more down than came up. I only had the “coming up fever” for a day on the trip. I was fortunate according to some of the guys, some of them had it three and four days. It don’t take long to diet that way.
Well now by my address you can see that I am on a Destroyer or “Can” as we call it. It gets pretty rough going once in a while. Like when you go down to the mess hall. You sit down to chow. You sit by long tables with a ridge around them. Well, you pick up your fork and knife, by that time the ship rolls, your plate slides away from you and there is another guy’s tray in front of you. Well, you just wait until the ship rolls in the other direction then catch a bite as it goes by. In that way if you like real hot Joe, I mean coffee, by the time you get it all down it is cooled off. It’s just like grab and slide. You grab your food and the tray slides away. But all in all, as long as I have to be out here, I’ll take this Can duty.
Well, I haven’t been on here very long yet, but since I got on here I have seen action, and I can assure you it’s no fun. We were in the China Sea and our ship was in on the invasion of Luzon. That’s all I can write about it. But the news came over the radio and through the papers. I am just a boot out here yet compared to some guys but I’m ready to go home.
So many of you write what can you do for me out here. Well, there is one thing you all can do, not only for me but for all of us out here, and that is pray for us. We need it all the time, but especially at times. And may all your prayers soon be answered. May God ere long have his purpose fulfilled with this war, and that peace may again reign. Then we can come home again.
I haven’t gotten any of the copies of the News yet since I left the States but I surely hope to soon. Then I’ll get some more news of home. Hello to all the rest of you guys wherever you may be. No more news. Thanks for all your letters and cards. I hope to answer them all separately but if I don’t, don’t feel hurt because we are pretty busy once in a while. So then until later. Goodnight. Just another sailor who is anxious to get home again. Steve Kramer F 1/c (EM) (Call the News for his complete address)
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 15, 1945, p 2
FM 1/c Steven Kramer is stationed at Iwo Jima.
Source: Sioux County Capital Mar. 29, 1945, p 7
Mrs. Steven Kramer returned from her stay with her husband in California. She is now at the home of her parents, C. Hogan at Sioux Center.
Source: Sioux County Capital July 12, 1945, p 2
(Excerpt of letter from Theodore Vande Berg) Recently Steven Kramer was over to see me again. We had a very nice chat and the time together was well spent. His ship was in port only for a few days, which made it possible for him to see me. He left again now, where to he didn’t quite know, but had a very good idea.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 16, 1945, p 2
HOME FROM OVERSEAS (photo) STEVEN KRAMER F 1/C
Mrs. Steve Kramer, Muriel Hogan, and Peter Visser went to Omaha on Wednesday to meet Steven Kramer F 1/c who arrived home from overseas duty this week. He has been on sea duty for the past 10 months on a destroyer.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 20, 1945, p 10
F 1/c Steve Kramer arrived from the Pacific for a 23-day leave at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kramer.
Source: Sioux County Capital Sept. 27, 1945, p 5
Steve Kramer F 1/c (E.M.) is now stationed at Shoemaker, Calif. and he has this address: Bt. 12 Bks. 1225 U.S.N. Rec. and Dist. Center, Shoemaker, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 15, 1945, p 10
Home from the Philippines (photo) STEVE KRAMER F 1/C
Steve Kramer F 1/c arrived from Minneapolis with his service discharge. 2 years in service, he spent 14 months overseas. Aboard a Destroyer 1 year, he spent 2 months on the aircraft carrier, “Shipley Bay” transport vessel. He participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Luzon the Philippines. He wears 4 battle stars, the Philippine Liberation, the Asiatic-Pacific and American Campaign ribbons. Mr. and Mrs. Kramer will live on a farm near Perkins.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 21, 1946, p 10
HONORABLY DISCHARGED
Discharge papers filed to Feb. 19: … Steven Kramer, USN, Maurice …
Source: Alton Democrat Feb. 21, 1946, p 1
Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954, Claim Number 124950
Steven Kramer was born December 21, 1922, at Maurice, Iowa, which was where he was residing prior to entering the Navy on February 28, 1944, at Orange City, Iowa. He left for overseas duty on November 1, 1944, returned on September 25, 1945, left again on November 1, 1945, returned on February 1, 1946, and was honorably discharged on February 10, 1946. His application for bonus pay was filed on May 31, 1949, for which he received $275.00.
Source: Ancestry.com
