Tommy De Lange Will Join U.S. Army
Tommy De Lange, who has clerked in the Hasselo and Berghuis grocery store for several years, this week announced he would leave here the latter part of August to join the Army, and be stationed at Ft. Crooks, Nebraska quite likely. He went to Omaha Monday to take preliminary examinations and was pronounce physically fit to enter. He hopes ultimately to take up aviation.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 3, 1939 p 1
Tommy De Lange left Tuesday morning for Fort Crooks, Nebraska, where he will join the U.S. Army.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 31, 1939 p 4
Tommy De Lange of Fort Crooks, Neb. spent the past week at the parental home.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 21, 1939 p 5
Birthday Greetings
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March 5 – Tommy De Lange, Camp Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas, ….
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 29, 1940
Tommy De Lange who joined the U.S. Army and is stationed in Oklahoma, hitchhiked home arriving Saturday for a brief visit with his parents. Tommy is looking well and likes his work. This is his first visit home since he joined the army last year.
Source: Sioux Center News June 13, 1940 p 3
Tommy De Lange Takes First Parachute Jump
Fort Benning, Georgia
February 6, 1941
Dear Friends:
After about three months of rigorous training the troops of 501st Parachute Battalion were ready this week to make their first jump with the parachute. Our company was the last to make their novice jumps. At about 7:30 A. M. this morning we marched to the airport and boarded the airplanes which were waiting for us there. We were divided in groups of twelve which is the number of men each airplane can hold. I was in the first group to leave the ground and was the sixth man to jump. Each plane is provided with a dummy which is dropped first to determine the velocity of the wind which should not be over 10 miles an hour for training purposes. After reaching an altitude of 1500 feet the dummy was kicked out and we learned to our great disappointment that we could not jump because the wind was too strong. We were ordered to land and get out of the plane and wait till a later date. But the weather cleared somewhat and at 9:30 we took off again this time quite certain of jumping. Another dummy was dropped and the result was favorable.
The first man was ordered to stand by and prepare to jump. At the command “Go” he bailed out and made a successful landing. He showed no trace of nervousness or excitement. Four more men jumped and then my turn came. I took my place at the door, focused my eyes on the horizon, and waited for the command to go. Incidentally upon taking my place at the door I hooked my static line to the anchor cable in the plane. This static line opens the parachute and it is not necessary for us to pull a ripcord. At the command “Go” I jumped out and for a few seconds I did not see or hear anything. Then I felt a friendly tug on my shoulders and looked up. My parachute was open and the canopy was floating above me fully inflated. I tugged on the risers to reduce the oscillation and I was soon going down in a normal vertical direction. I felt like a “million dollars” or what would you say? It was a real thrill to be hanging up there. There is hardly any sensation of falling at all. The only thing you notice is that the ground begins to look as though it is changing shape. The contour of the ground becomes more visible and looks more and more like when you were on it last.
I turned my back to the wind and made myself ready for a landing. I pulled on my risers and hit the ground on both feet. Although I could not keep from sitting down, I was not jarred in the least. I rolled my parachute and left the field feeling very happy that I had been able to pack my own parachute, make a successful jump and know there were more to follow. I wish some of you could be here to see the parachutists. You would be thrilled to see us when we make our mass jumps. These are made from an altitude of only 300 feet. Quick thinking and caution is required then. A delayed opening would not be very welcome then.
I hope that all of you who have been drafted into the military service are enjoying yourself. For myself I feel happy now that I joined before the army was expanding as it is now. I have been very fortunate so far and feel quite convinced that I will some day realize what I have been looking forward to for several years. That is making my application for Flying Cadet. At present I could do that but I plan to finish my parachute training first. That will take about a year.
I wish you all the best of everything.
Your friend,
“Ripcord”
Tommy De Lange
Sgt. Specl. 1 Cl. Co. “B”, 501st Parachute Bn.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 13, 1941 p 1 & 6
24 Local Boys Serve In Army And Navy
Twenty-four boys from Sioux Center and near vicinity are now serving in the army and the navy. Some of these boys have been drafted and some have volunteered. Most of our boys will be drafted into military service in the near future, and each day it appears that we are drawing nearer to an open war at the side of England.
We publish below a list of boys with their addresses, with the thought that their friends will write them letters.
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Tommy De Lange
Company B
501st Parachute Bn.
Fort Benning, Georgia
Source: Sioux Center News July 31, 1941 p 3
Company “B”
501st Parachute Battalion
Fort Benning, Georgia
August 5, 1941
Dear Friends:
From the looks of last week’s paper there must have a considerable amount of excitement in town during your recent celebration. It made me wish I had been there for just a while to help you celebrate because we have been working rather hard here lately. But more than that I wish I could have been there to make a parachute jump for you. I was thinking of this because of an article I read in a recent issue of the Collier’s magazine which stated that in Germany the paratroopers are allowed to make individual jumps when they are on leave or visiting their home town. It creates a feeling of individual responsibility for the soldier and also gives him an added amount of determination which he can readily use in an organization of this kind.
I am credited with eleven jumps so far and each one has been a thrill. Ten of them were made under the supervision of our company commander but the other one was made without permission. It so happened that one of my “buddies” was called on to make two jumps one day and he asked whether he could use my parachute. I consented but told him of course that it would be his own hard luck if it did not open because that was something I could not insure. We walked to the jumping field together and upon asking the pilot of the plane how many more trips he was going to make that afternoon he told me “Only one”. And that was my opportunity to tell him that there were two of us to jump instead of one. There were seven officers and two of us making the jump. I was second to the last in making my exit, when I realized that my static line was on the wrong side of my hand as I went out of the door, but that was too late. It sent me spinning to the ground headfirst. I forgot to count as I was told to, so that I could time the opening of my chute, but the next thing I realized was that my chute was open but my head was bent down forward on my chest and I could not raise it. I hollered to the man ahead of me to look at my chute and see what was wrong with it but he just laughed and said “There is nothing wrong with the chute. It’s you”. What actually happened was that my suspension lines had twisted around each other as I was spinning and it left me quite helpless in guiding my chute down properly. And then I began to spin the other way as my suspension lines began to unwind and I nearly passed out. However I made a good landing right next to the Major who asked me why I had taken the liberty to jump on my own accord. I do not remember what I replied but when I walked off of the field he was smiling to himself and I knew that I had gotten by with it.
Occasionally we have accidents some of which are of a rather serious nature. If I remember correctly it was in April when our troops had to make a jump for RKO and things did not go so smoothly. The air was rough and as a result we found that the plane we were in was bouncing around like a kite. I was the leading man out of the plane that day. There were four planes in the formation one of which was leaded with equipment bundles. I took my place in the door and waited for the signal to go when I noticed that the sixth man in line showed signs of nervousness. He had turned pale in the face and it did not seem as though he would make it. I motioned to the fellow in rear of him to give him a push in case he should happen to stop in the door. Then the captain said “Go” and I was gone. An equipment bundle from the other plane flew past my head barely missing me, another dropped dangerously close to my feet but they did not hit me. Because of these bundles falling near me I did not look back to see how the other fellows were getting along but now I wish I had. I realized this when I got to the ground. I landed on my back in a car rut which was filled with water and was quite a sight when I stood up. A Lieutenant came running in my direction and whispered to me, “Don’t say a thing about it”. That started me guessing and naturally I looked up at the other boys who were still coming down. But there was one chute missing. I thought perhaps a chute had failed to open, but I found out later that the boy who had looked so pale and scared had been caught by the tail of the plane. It was impossible for him to do anything about it because he had no knife with him to cut the line so that he could use his reserve chute. But on second thought he did it anyway fearing that if he would have to land that way it would kill him. So he pulled his ripcord and was jerked free of the plane. I saw him coming down about 4 miles from the jumping field but noticed that he was not checking the risers on his chute. When he did land he was “knocked out” completely. But we all feel proud of the fact that he recovered and is back with us for duty. He received quite a bit of attention and was highly complemented on his actions in the face of danger.
Several times the reserve chute has saved the lives of the parachutists and whenever a man uses it he feels proud of the fact that he had enough presence of mind to use it. Only one man has been killed so far out of about 5000 jumps. That is a good record.
Sometimes the boys try foolish stunts which cause the officers to clamp down on us. One of the sergeants in our company found out that the pack cover of his chute had jerked loose as he sat down in the plane. But he was not intending to do anything about it. He just calmly told the man in rear of him to hold the silk in his hands and throw it out as he jumped. And he did just that. His chute blossomed out like all the rest of the others. In another incident 2 fellows were coming down quite close to each other. In an effort to get close enough so they that could shake hands one of the chutes collapsed and both came down with one, which is possible but not advisable. Sometimes the boys forget in their excitement to hoop their static line to the plane. But they hardly ever forget that twice. Sometimes a panel will break open in the canopy and it will bring you down quite a bit faster than you would like to come down. Sometimes when we are on maneuvers our food is dropped to us by parachutes and in one incident a cream can full of coffee broke loose from the chute and we just did not have any coffee for dinner. There is not reserve chute on an equipment bundle.
Next week our troops are going to Atlanta, Georgia to witness the World’s Premiere showing of the picture “Parachute Battalion” which was taken during the early part of this year. You can imagine how much fun that will be. I do not have the slightest idea concerning the story connected with the picture but I am sure it will be interesting to all of us since we were connected with its production. If you get an opportunity to see it do not miss it. You will be thrilled.
I was hoping that my dad would be able to see this picture because I had mentioned it to him quite often. It was the greatest disappointment I ever have had to know that he passed away. But he was proud of the work I was doing when he left. He told me this in his last letter and was hoping that he would be able to see me sometime so that I could tell him all about our work. But since that is impossible now I can only be grateful for the fact that I can help mother along and see that she is taken care of. We are fortunate to receive good pay here. We are all insured through the Government and in case of death those of whom we think most will be taken care of. That is a credit to our government.
I enjoy reading our hometown paper and especially the letters from some of the Boys in camp. I hope those who have left Sioux Center to offer their services for our country are enjoying success. I am glad to say that I enjoy my work and will do everything to defend our freedom. Of course, that would naturally be my pledge considering the work I do.
If there are any of you who wish to join the parachute battalion I can tell you that all the requirements consist of good physical condition, average or above average intelligence, 6 months service in the infantry, and good character. Athletes are preferred above those who are not familiar with sports.
It would be a great pleasure to hear from some of you.
Your friend,
Tommy De Lange
Sergeant, 501st Para. Bn.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 14, 1941 p 3
LIST OF SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND MARINES FROM THIS LOCALITY
The News has gathered a list of the local boys who are serving in the Army, Navy and Marines at the present time with their correct addresses. If you have any correction of the addresses published we would be glad to know about it, and if anyone has bee omitted from the list, call our attention to it and we will publish them next week.
Many people have inquired as to the correct addresses of the men in the service so that they may correspond with them. Now that you have the correct address, sit down and write a letter to your friend, or relative that is in the army, navy or with the marines. Only they can tell you how much it means to get a letter from home.
The Women’s Club has been working on plans whereby each member will “adopt” a man in the service in order to send him cookies, birthday cards, and other tokens of remembrance.
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Tommy De Lange
Comp. B 501st Parachute Bn.
Fort Benning, Georgia
…..
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 30, 1941 p 4
Tommy De Lange is now located in the canal zone down in Panama.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 25, 1941 p 6
The following is a letter written to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Hasselo by Tommy De Lange, who is stationed in the Panama Canal zone. Tommy worked for Mr. Hasselo for several years before enlisting in the army. His letter will be of interest to his many friends here.
December 20, 1941
Ft. Kobbe, C.L.
Dear “Jerry” and Mrs. Hasselo;
When I told you about 2 ½ years ago that I would keep you well informed about myself I guess I wasn’t quite telling you the truth. I realized this when I received your last letter. I wish to thank you very much for the letter and the accompanying picture of Jerry. I was very much pleased with it. It brought back many happy memories.
We are having very pleasant weather here. I can hardly believe that is true in your case although I would much rather be in cool and snowy weather during the Christmas season than the tropical weather of Panama. I am not used to celebrating Christmas that way. But nevertheless we can enjoy outdoor athletics to satisfaction, and we have been having plenty of athletics in the past. Real conditioning with marvelous results. How would you like to go swimming around Christmas time? Or be running around in a bathing suit enjoying a game of baseball, volleyball or softball. It’s real sport.
Well, it seems as though history continues to repeat itself. But previous history also tells us what the outcome will be. Down here everything is better than be expected and everything is quiet. I think that I can include, however, that we are ready and more than willing to maintain this quiet and security. It is ours and will remain ours to keep.
I wish you would say hello to everyone from me and wish them the greetings of the season. I’ll be thinking of you all during Christmas time with true thankfulness for what it brought us many years ago and for the assurance it continues to give us in times like these.
Your friend,
Tommy De Lange
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 8, 1942 p 4
January 7, 1942
Fort Kobbe, Canal Zone
Dear Friends:
Censorship of our mail at present prevents me from writing about our activities in detail, but I am pleased to inform you that the situation in the Canal Zone is well in hand and there is no immediate need for concern aside from the precautionary measures which have been taken which require our constant and daily attention. I must say that in the face of present conditions existing in the world and the inevitable fact that many of us will see action sometime in the future (we’ll never know when) my life in the Army is very pleasant and enjoyable. More than ever before I am proud to be a soldier in the U. S. Army and will remain to be so as long as my country requires my service. The fact that we are deprived of many privileges which formerly we enjoyed is easily forgotten when we think of our “buddies” in the Philippines who are sacrificing their lives for our safety and the desire to preserve on this earth a nation which desires peace and the preservation of liberty. This ideal alone will carry the American Army through to certain victory in spite of the desperate struggle which lies ahead.
The voluntary and willing support of all those who are not actually engaged in the service certainly is a vital factor in producing a good army and all of us in the service are thankful and appreciative of the fact that the U. S. has taken increased pride in her soldiers and is back of them one hundred percent.
We are enjoying wonderful weather in Panama at present. When we arrived here last September hardly a day went by without some rain but now the dry season is here and together with the cool ocean breezes we can enjoy the out-of-doors to the fullest extent. Athletics is included in our schedule to a great extent and it is the part of our training which I like the best. Our uniform for athletics is bathing suits. As a result we have become suntanned to such a degree that you might make the mistake of thinking we were Panamanians.
The holiday season was not spent, if you did not look a second time, with as much enthusiasm as back in the States but the general thought of Christmas and its true meaning prevailed. We did have a good Christmas dinner and appreciated all the cards and letters from home. A letter down here is worth five in the States because of our limited entertainment. We really do appreciate hearing from the folks and friends at home.
I hope to be able to tell you more of our activities later but for the present that is impossible. If anything of major importance should turn up in the Canal Zone, I would take great pride in being the one to inform you about it but undoubtedly you would be as well informed as I would from what you read in the papers and hear over the radio. The news concerning the war is brought to us similar to the way you receive it, and that is just the situation in general.
Well, whatever happens in the future I certainly hope above all that we can get a chance to get a few of those Japs in our gun sights and let them have a few of our bullets. Anyway, I think they are paying dearly for their occupation of the Philippines because they will never keep them.
Yours truly,
Sgt. Tommy De Lange
I do not know if I ever told you about my promotions but my rank is that of Sergeant. In September of ’41 I was promoted to Corporal and in Dec. of ’41 I was promoted to the grade of Sergeant the rating which I now hold.
Ignore the return address on the outside of the envelope. My correct address is: Sergeant Tommy De Lange, Co. “B” 501st Parachute Battalion, Fort Kobbe, Canal Zone.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 15, 1942 p 6
Jan. 18, 1942
Fort Kobbe, Canal Zone
Sioux Center Civic Club
Dear Friends:
Thank you for being so thoughtful in sending me greetings for the Holiday Season. Although this letter will reach you quite late for the purpose for which it was written, I wish to remind you that my thoughts of you and all the Sioux Center folks was similar to that contained in the card you sent me. I think of my home town often because I am proud of it and I hope that I will be able to visit Sioux Center some time in the future.
From our hometown newspaper and friends who have written letters to me I understand that the Civic Club has been very active in the past and ahs sponsored many programs. Just now I am reminded of the program the Civic Club sponsored in the town hall in the summer of ’39. I really did enjoy being part of that program. In the field of music I have not yet found any organization that could possibly compare with that of the Sioux Center men’s chorus except those heard over the radio and we do not hear much of that. I certainly wish I could hear them sing once again because it was something I really enjoyed.
I would be very much interested in knowing how some of the boys are getting along with respect to their knowledge of music. Undoubtedly “Billy” Rozeboom and several others have made the study of music their profession.
Although the chances are very small, I do hope that I will be able to attend some of your programs in the future. Of course, as long as we are engaged in war the nature of my work would require that I remain in camp and await the outcome. But even if that is several years, I’ll still be wishing to hear the Sioux Center Men’s Chorus sing a few of their old songs.
I hope that the year 1942 will find you all happy and well throughout. I’ll be thinking of you during that time with the hope that I may see you again someday.
Your friend,
Tommy De Lange
Source: Sioux Center News, Feb. 12, 1942 p 3
58 Soldiers From Sioux Center Vicinity
SEND OMITTED NAMES OF MEN IN SERVICE
The American Legion has been sending inspirational letters each month to the soldiers of the Sioux Center vicinity and are anxious to have a complete list of the men in the service. The News has published the names of the men who left to serve their country in the “NEWS ABOUT OUR SOLDIERS” column. Please contact the News if any soldier has been omitted or if the rank is not correct in the list which follows:
…..
Sgt. Tommy De Lange
Keep the Sioux Center News informed when your soldier has a promotion in rank, change of address, or just a line about how he is getting along. Little sidelights on the activities of the men under arms are of interest to everyone. Call anytime and give us a news item on the man who has gone to serve his country in the time of war. The News Reporter cannot contact each one of you every week so your cooperation will be appreciated. Every letter from the soldiers indicate a great deal of pleasure is derived in reading about his fellow ”Buddy” and the mutual experiences in the U. S. service.
Source: Sioux Center News March 26, 1942 p 3
Tommy De Lange Visits Here Several Days
Tommy De Lange, who is with the U. S. forces which have been stationed at Panama stopped in Sioux Center to visit with relatives and friends. He arrived here on Friday and left Monday afternoon, staying at the home of his aunt, Mrs. John Visser. He had but a few days as he was scheduled to be in Fort Benning, Georgia where he is to take on the duties of an instructor will receive the rating of 5th Technical Sergeant of Hdg. Bn. He has made 28 jumps as a parachute jumper with no mishaps or injuries. Jumps are made at a height of 1600 feet as a rule but Tommy has jumped from 3000 feet.
Tommy De Lange is the son of Mrs. Peter De Lange of Glendale, Calif.
(photo)
Source: Sioux Center News June 25, 1942 p 1
Tommy De Lange was a Sunday dinner guest at the home of Mrs. Peter Berghuis on Sunday. … Tommy De Lange was a dinner guest at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Addink west of Sioux Center on Monday and later they drove him to the train at Sheldon. He left for Fort Benning, Georgia.
Source: Sioux Center News June 25, 1942 p 5
Tommy De Lange was a Sunday supper guest at the home of his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Lane De Stigter.
Source: Sioux Center News June 25, 1942 p 2
Mr. and Mrs. John Addink received a letter from Tommy De Lange who is with the U. S. army stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., stating how much he enjoyed his trip to Sioux Center and will not soon forget their hospitality while he visited here. He says that he hopes to come back to Sioux Center someday. His address is: Corp. Tommy De Lange, Sv. Co., 504th Prcht. Bn., Fort Benning Ga., U.S. Army.
Source: Sioux Center News July 9, 1942 p 2
Tommy De Lange Promoted to Staff Sergeant
Tommy De Lange who has been stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia since his return from the Panama Canal Zone, was recently transferred to Camp Toombs, Georgia. He has been promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and is training new recruits at Camp Toombs. His latest address is: S Sgt. Tommy De Lange, Hq. Co. 3rd Bn., 506th Prcht. Infantry, Camp Toombs, Georgia.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 13, 1942 p 8
Three years ago Tommy De Lange entered the U. S. army at a time when the war situation looked comparatively mild. He is now a Staff Sergeant in the U. S. army, instructing new parachute jumpers at Toccoa, Georgia.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 24, 1942 p 2
SIOUX COUNTY SERVICEMEN HAVE GOOD MILITARY RECORDS
29 COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OUT OF 325
The News recently made a survey of the Soldier Mailing list and discovered there were a good many officers in the U.S. Fighting Forces representing Sioux Center all over the world. While some of these men are not from Sioux Center proper, they all have some connections here and most of them are known in this territory. This is only a small percentage of Sioux County men, but is a fair cross section of the County.
There may be others who are from this territory whose names do not appear on this list, but we are using our mailing list to go by, so those who do not get the News would naturally not appear on this list. However it is interesting to note, the percentage of officers (commissioned or non-commissioned) in a list of over 325 servicemen.
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5 Staff Sgts.
Tommy De Lange
…..
Source: Sioux Center News, July 8, 1943 p 5
St. Sgt. Tommy De Lange
Hq. and Tq. Co. 1st Bn.
517 Para. Inf. 17 AB Div.
Camp Mackall, N.C.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 25, 1943 p 12
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Hasselo received a letter coming from Tommy De Lange telling them that he had received a medical discharge from the army and was now living on a small farm in Georgia. Tommy who is well known to the Sioux Center people has been a paratrooper instructor at Camp Bennett, Georgia while in the service.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 3, 1944 p 2
