John Wesselink, Willis Meylink, Clayton Balkema, Marion Kempers, Richard Meyer, Donald Brommer and Lawrence Bleeker were those from here who took their physical examinations Tuesday. Irwin Mouw also received his call from Lyon County.
Source: Alton Democrat Feb. 24, 1944, p 4
SIOUX CO. MEN LEAVE FOR SERVICE
Large Groups Depart For Army-Navy Centers …
The following named men left Wednesday, March 22nd, for Camp Dodge, Iowa, where they will be inducted into the army: …; Willis Meylink, Sioux Center; …
Source: Alton Democrat March 23, 1944, p 1
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Heymans and Mr. and Mrs. Ben Meylink entertained relatives in their homes Sunday as a farewell for their son, Willis Meylink, who left Wednesday for induction.
Source: Sioux County Capital March 23, 1944, p 8
Draft Board Minutes The following have been reclassified at the last Draft Board meeting in Sioux county: … Meylink, Willis, 1A to 1C Ind. …
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 6, 1944, p 1
Mrs. Willis Meylink and her sister Myra Hymans of Sioux Center spent the weekend at the parental H. Hymans home. Mrs. Meylink has received letters from her husband Pvt. Willis Meylink that he is stationed at Camp Roberts, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 13, 1944, p 8
Mrs. Willis Meylink of Sioux Center and her sisters, Misses Myra and Virginia Hymans of Hull will leave this week Thursday morning from Sheldon for Camp Roberts, California, at which place Pvt. Willis Meylink is stationed.
Source: Sioux County Index May 25, 1944, p 4
Mrs. Willis Meylink wrote from Camp Roberts, California, where she is visiting her husband, that while they attended a church service in the Methodist Church at Paso Robles, California, they recognize Cpl. and Mrs. Gerrit Rozeboom in the church choir. Mrs. Rozeboom does office work in camp and stays at the girl's dormitory in camp. Cpl. Rozeboom was a former instructor at Western Academy here, and they both have many friends in Hull.
Source: Sioux County Index June 15, 1944, p 1
COMPLETES BASIC TRAINING JULY 29
Mrs. Willis Meylink writes from Camp Roberts, California that she is very much enjoying her visit to Southern California and the fact that she can be with her husband. Willis expects to complete his basic training July 29th, can spend his furlough here. They are both wondering what his next orders will be. Mrs. Meylink has been working at the Paso Robles Inn during the summer.
Source: Sioux Center News July 27, 1944, p 2
Camp Roberts, Calif., July 20, ‘44
Dear Chuck, Just a line to let you know Willis will be finished with his basic training here on July 29 and so will be getting a “new address” that day or soon after. So please send the Index to us at home, beginning with your next issue. I'll be coming home in a couple of weeks and Willis expects a short furlough before going on. So we'll be seeing you. Thanks many times for the Index. We've all appreciated it. Myra, Birdie and I have all been working hard all the time we've been up here. We've enjoyed our stay up here. We've been happy to spend our time together. Thanks again. We'll be seeing you. Sincerely, “Dete” (Mrs. Willis Meylink)
Source: Sioux County Index July 27, 1944, p 5
Pfc. Willis Meylink from Camp Roberts, Calif. arrived in Sioux County Monday. On Tuesday evening the Meylink relation had a welcome party, a picnic supper for Pfc. Willis and Mrs. Meylink and a farewell for 1st Class Gunner Mate Arthur and Mrs. Bergsma who on Wednesday left for Washington, D.C. to attend school. Thos from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Jones and children from Valley Springs, S.D., Mrs. Carl Nelson of Oregon, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. De Boom and daughters from Hartley, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Meylink of Waterloo and John Meylink and W. Bergsma families of Rock Valley. 31 were present.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 10, 1944, p 5
Lawrence Bleeker, Irwin Mouw and Willis Meylink all left again on Saturday morning after spending 15 days with their respective families here. They will now be transferred to a camp in Maryland.
Source: Sioux County Index Aug. 24, 1944, p 7
Hospitalized:
Pvt. Willis Meylink who is at Fort Meade, Maryland, has an infection in his leg and is hospitalized. August 25 was the 7th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Meylink, so Mrs. Willis Meylink sent her husband a cake and she also took one to Hull with other refreshment. So the Meylinks and Hymans commemorated the event. Pvt. Willis called up his wife and they exchanged congratulations.
Source: Sioux Center News, August 31, 1944
Pvt. Willis Meylink is at present in the hospital with a knee infection and sends the following new address:
Pvt. Willis Meylink
Co. B. 8th Bn. 2nd Regt.
A.G.F. Replacement Depot No. 1
Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 31, 1944, p 10
Pvt. Willis Meylink is out of the hospital now, and called his wife from Washington, D.C. last Friday. His correct address is:
Co. D. 8th Bn. 2nd Regt.
A.G.F. Replacement Depot No. 1
Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 7, 1944, p 8
As it was Pvt. Willis Meylink’s birthday on October 4th, all his uncles and aunts gathered at the Mrs. Willis Meylink home at Sioux Center on Wednesday evening and packed their presents preparatory to sending them to him. Private Meylink is supposedly on his way overseas.
Source: Sioux County Index Oct. 5, 1944, p 4
Mrs. Willis Meylink from Sioux Center was in Hull Sunday and informed relatives that her husband, Pvt. Willis Meylink had arrived in England.
Source: Sioux County Index Oct. 12, 1944, p 4
WILLIS MEYLINK HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN ACTION
Mrs. Willis Meylink received a telegram Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 13, from the War Department, stating that her husband had been seriously wounded in action somewhere in Germany on November 24th. His hospital address is as follows: Pvt. Willis Meylink, Hospitalized Central Postal Directory, APO 640. c/o Postmaster, New York, New York.
Willis Meylink was a transport driver for the Coop Gas and Oil Company before he entered the service last April. He left the states the latter part of September. His wife, the former Delia Hymans of Hull, has been teaching the fifth grade in the local school for the past two years.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 14, 1944, p 1
Relatives in Hull received word Sunday evening that private Willis Meylink is in a hospital in England. The letter was written to Mrs. Willis Meylink by a buddy in the hospital on December 8th, just two weeks after Willis was wounded in Germany. He received a wound in the shoulder, and he said if possible they would send him to the States in a month. He was able to walk around in the hospital, but unable to write.
Source: Sioux County Index Dec. 21, 1944, p 12
Awarded Purple Heart
Pvt. Willis Meylink who was wounded in action in Belgium on November 24th has been awarded the Purple Heart, according to a letter which he was able to write himself with his left hand. He said he would have preferred a plane trip back to the United States, but officials most recent opinion is that he will not return immediately as they had stated at first, but will quite likely be back by spring. Mrs. Meylink had received a letter from the government dated December 13th, saying that he was not making satisfactory progress, but was reassured when Willis was able to write himself on December 19th.Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 4, 1945, p 1
Hull Soldiers Battle Casualties
Three former Hull boys are reported missing or wounded in action on the Western front this week.
Mr. and Mrs. B. Meylink were informed that Mrs. Willis Meylink of Sioux Center received word from the government that her husband, Pvt. Willis Meylink—in a hospital in England after receiving serious wounds, was not making satisfactory progress. However, on Sunday evening a letter was received from Willis himself, written with his left hand, and the family feel encouraged.
Source: The Alton Democrat, January 4, 1945
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Meylink were informed the past week that Mrs. Willis Meylink of Sioux Center received word from the War Department that her husband, Pvt. Willis Meylink, who was seriously wounded while in combat in Germany, but who is now in a hospital in England, was not making satisfactory progress. Sunday she received a letter from Willis dated December 19th, written with his left hand, stating that they should not worry and that he was getting along fairly well.
Source: Sioux County Index, Hull, Iowa, January 4, 1945
Pvt. Willis Meylink, who was wounded in action in Belgium on November 24th, has been awarded the Purple Heart, according to a letter which he was able to write himself with his left hand. He said he would have preferred a plane trip back to the United States but officials most recent opinion is that he will not return immediately as they had stated as first, but will quite likely be back by spring. Mrs. Meylink had received a letter from the government dated December 13th, saying that he was not making satisfactory progress, but was reassured when Willis was able to write himself on Dec. 19th.
Source: Sioux Center News, Thursday, January 4, 1945 (photo included)
Mr. and Mrs. Ben J. Meylink were informed that Mrs. Willis Meylink of Sioux Center received three letters from Pvt. Willis Meylink from a hospital in England. One of them, written December 27th, stated that it would be a long time before he could use his right arm.
Source: Sioux County Index Jan. 11, 1945, p 8
Mr. and Mrs. Ben J. Meylink and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hymans received a letter from Pvt. Willis Meylink in a hospital in England, written on Christmas Day, saying that he would be coming home as soon as he was able to.
Source: Sioux County Index Jan. 11, 1945, p 5
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Vis received a letter this week from their son, Pvt. Peter Vis, who is stationed in a hospital in England, telling them that he had met private Willis Meylink in the hospital and that they had a nice visit together. He said that Willis had lost weight but was coming along nicely. Willis has received his papers to return to the States but it might be several weeks before he will be sent here.
Source: Sioux County Index Jan. 18, 1945, p 1
Willis Meylink Writes From English Hospital
13 Feb. 1945
Dear Ed and Marie:
Possibly I should have written this sometime ago. There are so many friends who have written to me since I was wounded in November and recently I have been conscience stricken for not answering their very welcome letters. Because of my wounds it has been impossible for me to answer those letters. But I do wish to say I enjoyed them very much and surely would have answered them if it would have been possible.
I would like to thank the Business Girls Club for their lovely portfolio which I received surprisingly enough around Christmas time.
A number of News have caught up with me which I have enjoyed reading very much. They keep me in touch with events of home as well as the whereabouts of other servicemen and women.
After about a week in an evacuation hospital in Germany I was evacuated by air to a General Hospital in England.
Here at this hospital I have received the best medical care possible in preparation for my return to the States. Some time ago I was ready to make the trip when an infection started in my neck. Nothing serious, but enough to delay my trip to the states for a month to six weeks.
I have had the good fortune to have had two boys from Hull visit me here at the hospital, Peter Vis, who is a medic in another hospital a short distance from here and Sgt. Gerald Calsbeek who is with an ordinance unit near here.
I had a letter from Pvt. Bert Ver Doorn who was wounded in Germany and is in a hospital near here. I have not seen him as yet but hope to get together soon.
In a ward such as we have of 32 boys I have found having been a bed patient a good share of the time that all of them are willing to do practically anything within their power to make things easier for patients such as I who are handicapped by being able to use only one arm as in the case of this letter which is being written by a very good friend of mine, Pvt. R. A. Potts.
I wish to thank you again for myself and for my wife for she has written that a great many people have inquired as to my well-being thereby showing the value of true Christian friendship.
Very sincerely,
Pvt. Willis Meylink
(Editor’s Note: Peter Vis, mentioned in the above letter, wrote his parents at Hull saying that Willis had lost considerable weight, and was at present under 125 pounds. Willis was around the 200 lb. mark when he entered the service. In letters to his wife and parents last week he was able to describe his injuries in detail for the first time. It seems his vocal cords have been injured by the shrapnel, and he is only able to whisper. Shrapnel wounds around one eye threatened to be very serious but are apparently healing nicely. The shrapnel that went through his chest injured nerves which control his right arm, rendering it useless, so far. Leg wounds are healing nicely.)
Source: Sioux Center News March 8, 1945, p 1
Willis Meylink Back In States
Pvt. Willis Meylink landed in the states Sunday, and called his wife from South Carolina. She could understand him fairly well, though his vocal cords were injured by shrapnel. He made the trip back by boat, taking 18 days. He called again Tuesday night to tell her he was leaving this week Thursday for Springfield, Mo. where he would arrive this weekend. Mrs. Meylink is going there to see him this coming weekend. He now weighs 149 pounds.
Source: Sioux Center News March 22, 1945, p 8
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Meylink and Mrs. Willis Meylink left Saturday from Sheldon to Springfield, Mo. to see Pvt. Willis Meylink who is in the hospital there. Sunday evening they called up to Mrs. Bernice Newhouse that they were together. Pvt. Willis also whispered a few words to his sister. They also had seen Richard Dykstra who is also a patient at the hospital. Pvt. Willis Meylink’s address is O’Reilly Hospital, Ward 1 A-1, Springfield, Mo.
Source: Sioux Center News March 29, 1945, p 2
WILLIS MEYLINK AT SPRINGFIELD, MO.
Mrs. Willis Meylink went to visit her husband who is now hospitalized at O’Reilly General Hospital, Ward A-1, Springfield, Missouri. She found him in good spirits, and anxious to begin his course of treatment and the several operations which will restore him to normal or as nearly normal as his various injuries will permit. His right hand is still quite useless, but he has hope that treatment will bring that nearly back to normal within a couple of years. The sight of his left eye is almost destroyed and surgeons have given him little hope that it can be restored, but they intend to try. As for the loss of his voice, they cannot tell until they operate just what can be done on that score.
Source: Sioux Center News, April 5, 1945
Relatives and friends were glad to hear that Pvt. Willis Meylink, at Springfield, Missouri, had a successful operation on his throat. He called his wife, Mrs. Willis Meylink, Friday evening and spoke in an audible voice which will improve as he picks up in strength.
Source: Sioux County Index April 12, 1945, p 5
Pvt. Willis H. Meylink 37692708 Ward A-1, O’Reilly Gen. Hosp. Springfield, Missouri
Source: Sioux County Index April 26, 1945, p 4
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hymans, Mrs. Willis Meylink and Virginia Hymans left early Friday morning for Des Moines, where Lt. (jg) Harold Hymans and Myra Hymans joined them and all went to Springfield, Missouri, to visit with Pfc. Willis Meylink.
Source: Sioux County Index May 3, 1945, p 5
The Henry Hymans family returned last Monday evening from Springfield, Mo., where they visited Pvt. Willis Meylink.
Source: Sioux County Capital May 10, 1945, p 6
Mrs. Maynard Newhouse and Nancy will accompany Mrs. Willis Meylink to Springfield, Missouri Thursday to visit with Pvt. Willis Meylink.
Source: Sioux County Index May 31, 1945, p 5
Mrs. Maynard Newhouse and Nancy returned home Wednesday afternoon from Springfield, Mo., where they visited Pfc. Willis Meylink. Mrs. Willis Meylink will remain with her husband and has a nice apartment a few miles away from the hospital.
Source: Alton Democrat June 14, 1945, p 8
Misses Myra and Virginia Hymans left for Florida Friday. They will reside with their sister, Mrs. Dale Kraai, during the summer months. They also visited with Pfc. and Mrs. Willis Meylink at Springfield, Mo.
Source: Sioux County Index June 14, 1945, p 5
Pfc. Willis H. Meylink 37692708 Ward A-7, O’Reilly Gen. Hosp. Springfield, Missouri
Source: Sioux County Index July 19, 1945, p 4
Saturday evening Captain Henry Meylink arrived here for a visit at the parental Ben J. Meylink home and also with other relatives and friends. Enroute here he stopped off at Springfield, Missouri, to see his brother, Willis, who is in a hospital there.
Source: Sioux County Index July 26, 1945, p 4
Pfc. Willis Meylink, who has been in a Springfield hospital for some time, and his wife came Tuesday for a visit. Willis will have a 30-day furlough, and part of it will be spent at the Meylink cottage at the Lakes.
Source: Alton Democrat Aug. 2, 1945, p 5
Service Men Home On Furloughs Name, Address and Expiration Date of Furlough … Willis Meylink, Hull…..8-30-45 …
Source: Sioux County Capital Aug. 9, 1945, p 1
Pfc. Willis Meylink, who has been spending a 30-day furlough at home here, will return to the hospital at Springfield, Missouri next Wednesday morning.
Source: Sioux County Index Aug. 30, 1945, p 4
Pfc. Willis Meylink of Springfield, Missouri, arrived home Friday. On Saturday morning Mr. and Mrs. Ben J. Meylink, Mrs. Maynard Newhouse and Nancy and Pfc. and Mrs. Willis Meylink went to their cottage at Lake Okoboji, returning Sunday evening.
Source: Sioux County Index Sept. 13, 1945, p 4
Pfc. and Mrs. Willis Meylink, Mrs. Henry Meylink and son Bobby, and Mrs. Maynard Newhouse and Nancy motored to the Lakes early Saturday morning for a little outing.
Source: Sioux County Index Sept. 20, 1945, p 4
Bill Juffer has sold his house to Pfc. and Mrs. Willis Meylink. Mrs. Meylink will move into the upstairs apartment the first week of November. Mrs. Robert Rens and daughter Sharon are now making their home there.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 20, 1945, p 4
Furloughs Name, Town and Expiration Date of Furlough … Willis Meylink, Hull …. 10-6-45 …
Source: Sioux County Capital Sept. 20, 1945, p 1
Pfc. Willis Meylink returned to the hospital at Springfield, Mo. after a 30-day furlough spent with his family.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 4, 1945, p 8
Willis Meylink Has Another Operation
Willis Meylink submitted to another operation at the Springfield, Missouri hospital where he has been treated since his return to the States from overseas. He has had recurring infections in his neck and the source was found during the course of the operation. Splinters of bone were found to be causing the infection. The operation took three hours, but he seemed to be resting easily afterwards. Mrs. Meylink remained with him a few days. Her sister, Mrs. Leonard Gorzeman taught her classes in the local school during her absence.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 18, 1945, p 1
BACK TO HOSPITAL BED AGAIN
Willis Meylink is back in the hospital bed again, after another infection set in. His operation of a few weeks ago proved not too successful after all, since the cause of the infection has not been removed. Mrs. Meylink said she plans to stay with her parents in Hull and will rent the apartment in which she and Willis planned to live, until his health permits more permanent arrangements.
Source: Sioux Center News, November 15, 1945 (photo included)
T/5 Maynard Newhouse who was long in Italy arrived in the States at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia, Nov. 11th and was sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo. where he received an honorable discharge. Then he went to Springfield, Mo. and called on his brother-in-law, Pfc. Willis Meylink, who is a patient in the hospital.
Source: Alton Democrat Nov. 22, 1945, p 3
Pfc. Willis Meylink who has been confined to the O’Reilly General Hospital at Springfield, Missouri, has been transferred to the Schick General Hospital at Clinton, Iowa, where he will receive further treatment.
Source: Sioux County Index Nov. 29, 1945, p 4
Pfc. Willis Meylink from the Schick Hospital at Clinton came home Friday evening. He was met in Sioux City by Mrs. Willis Meylink and Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Newhouse. Willis met M/Sgt. Mike Klock on the train. Mike, a former Hull boy, was on his way to Sioux Falls.
Source: Sioux County Capital Dec. 6, 1945, p 7
Pfc. Willis Meylink is now in the hospital at Clinton, Iowa and this is his address: Schick General Hosp., Clinton, Iowa. Source:
Sioux Center News Dec. 6, 1945, p 2
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. De Boom and daughters from Hartley were Sunday afternoon callers at the B. Meylink home to see Pfc. Willis Meylink and Maynard Newhouse. The De Boom family plan to leave next week for Long Beach, Calif. by train to visit at the parental W. Meylink home.
Source: Alton Democrat Dec. 13, 1945, p 8
Mr. and Mrs. W. De Roos had 14 guests Friday evening for supper in honor of their nephews, who are in service, Capt. Henry and Pfc. Willis Meylink and Mayard Newhouse who has been discharged.
Source: Alton Democrat Jan. 3, 1946, p 7
Mesdames J. Weiman and H. Meylink entertained at six o’clock dinner on Tuesday. Fourteen covers were laid. The dinner was in honor of Pfc. Willis Meylink who left Wednesday from Sioux City for the Schick General Hospital at Clinton, Iowa.
Source: Sioux County Index Jan. 3, 1946, p 8
Pfc. Willis Meylink has returned to the hospital at Clinton and recently had the tube removed from his throat. He may receive his discharge soon as the hospital is to be closed.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 17, 1946, p 10
Pfc. Willis Meylink received his discharge from the army and arrived home from the Schick General Hospital in Clinton, Iowa, on Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. Meylink are moving to their new home in Sioux Center this week and Willis asked us to thank all those who wrote letters or sent cards, or in any manner remembered him while he was hospitalized since his return to the states.
Source: Sioux County Index Jan. 24, 1946, p 8
Draft Board Minutes of January 22, 1946 … Class 1-C Discharged: …, Willis Meylink, …
Source: Sioux County Capital Jan. 24, 1946, p 1
Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954, Claim Number 3051
Willis Houwers Meylink was born October 4, 1913, at Perkins, Iowa, and was residing at Sioux Center, Iowa, prior to entering the army on March 23, 1944, at Camp Dodge, Iowa. He served with Company K, 414th Infantry, 14th Division, left for overseas duty on Sept. 18, 1944, returned on March 18, 1945, and was honorably discharged on Jan. 16, 1946. His application for bonus pay was filed on May 8, 1949, for which he received $255.00.
Source: ancestry.com
