Mr. and Mrs. Arie Bylsma of Hull have two boys in the service, one now being overseas, as far as they know in Ireland. Peter Bylsma is a Private First Class, has been in the service since May 9, 1941, going first to Camp Claiborne where he remained till January, 1942. He was then transferred to Ft. Dix, N. J. and shortly thereafter left the country. He is in the infantry and his correct address to date is:
PFC Peter Bylsma
Co. E. 168th Inf.
APO 24, c.o. Postmaster
New York City, N. Y.
Corporal Percy Bylsma was inducted July 9, 1941 and received his first training at Camp Wolters, Texas, was there 15 weeks. He moved then to Ft. Jackson, S. C. where he spent the next nine months. Following that he spent six weeks at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and then went to Tennessee the next two months. He was recently moved to a new location and his present address is:
Cpl. Percy Bylsma
Co. M. 13th Inf.
APO No. 8
Camp Forrest, Tenn.
U. S. Army
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 19, 1942 p 2
Bylsma Brothers Serve USA
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Corporal Percy Bylsma, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arie Bylsma of Hull, left July, 1941, for induction into the Army. He has been in four different camps, is now at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. He is with the infantry. Last spring he was given a furlough and he expects to come home again on a seven day furlough before the first of the year. His present address:
Corp. Percy Bylsma
Co. M. 13th Inf.
APO No. 18
Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
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Peter Bylsma, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arie Bylsma of Hull was inducted into the army in May, 1941. He has been in Ireland and possibly in England. His parents haven't heard from him for about seven weeks. His last letter stated he was going to move but he did not know where to. They think he may be in Africa. His address is:
PFC Peter Bylsma
Co. A. 168th Inf.
APO 34, c.o. Postmaster
New York City, N.Y.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 10, 1942 p 1
2nd Lt. Percy Bylsma is home on a furlough from Georgia. Wednesday he leaves again for Tennessee. His brother Peter who is a German prisoner wrote that he was well but he wasn't receiving any letters from home.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 25, 1943 p 12
With the 35th Infantry Division in Germany:- On February 17th, 1st Lieutenant Percy Bylsma of Sioux Center, Iowa, Heavy weapons company commander with the 134th Infantry, was notified of his battlefield promotion to Captain.
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CAPT. PERCY BYLSMA
Veteran of campaigns in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland and Germany, Captain Bylsma wears three battle stars. He was wounded in the battle of Foret de Gramercy, France, but returned to duty. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Capt. Bylsma was graduated from Western Air College, Alhambra, Calif. in 1941, after pursuing their Aeronautical Engineering course. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Arie Bylsma of Hull. His wife is the former Alice Beukelman who is making her home with her father Mr. A. Beukelman on a farm northwest of town. His brother Peter Bylsma is a German prisoner from whom no news has come for a long time. They are wondering just where he is at, as the prison camp where he was placed has been moved.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 22, 1945 p 1
BYLSMA BROTHERS MEET IN GERMANY
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CPL. PETER BYLSMA
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CAPT. PERCY BYLSMA
It was a dramatic and happy meeting over in Germany a few weeks ago when Cpl. Peter Bylsma, released from a German prison camp where he had been incarcerated for three years, met his brother, Capt. Percy Bylsma, infantry officer in the 9th army.
After the close of hostilities Capt. Bylsma learned through Sam Faber, another Sioux countyite, of the whereabouts of his brother, who was captured at Faid Pass in Tunisia, North Africa. He went to look up his brother, and driving into camp in a jeep was immediately recognized with a glad shout by Cpl. Peter. The latter is now en route home.
The young men are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Arie Bylsma of Hull, who have two other sons overseas in service, both of whom were in the Okinawa invasion, Adolph in the Navy and Louis in the Marines. Word has just come to his parents that Louis has been badly wounded in the back and was barely able to write --- only managed to scribble a line so his that parents would not be so shocked when word of his wounds is received from the war department. (Alton Democrat)
Source: Sioux Center News June 7, 1945 p 2
