Pvt. Jacob J. De Ryke, who recently entered the service, writes from his station at Brookings, S.D.
Aug. 16, 1945
Dear Ed, Marie and News Force:
I just have time to write a few lines between chow and afternoon classes. That is I’m taking the time. We don’t have time for anything here except studying if we want to get everything done the way it should be done. We are taking 5 main courses and 2 minor courses. We started at about the middle of a sophomore physics book. We are also taking College Algebra and Trigonometry. In addition to this we are taking a course in History and an English course. This in itself makes a full schedule, but they also have physical training 6 hours a week and three hours of Military. We get 7 ½ hours of sleep most nights. Reveille is at 6:30 and breakfast at 7:00. Between breakfast and 7:50 we sweep out our rooms and get them ready for inspection. We fall out in formation at 7:50 and march to class. After class at noon, we march back to the barracks, leave our books there, and then march to chow by platoons. We get very good meals here. There also is plenty of it.
After chow we march to our afternoon classes. These are Laboratory, Physical Training and Military classes. Occasionally we have an afternoon study hall.
We have evening chow at 5:15 and then are off duty from then until 7:30. I usually spend most of the time studying. I often go to see mother for a few minutes also. From 7:30 until 10:30 we have study hall in the barracks. Ordinarily we get three hours to prepare for four classes. This really keeps us humping. Study period for this afternoon has begun. It is one of the few we have in the afternoon during the week.
Although the war is over it looks as though we will be here for quite some time yet. The war department will not get to us for quite a while yet and until they do we’ll be kept studying.
Well, back to my books. My address is: Pvt. Jacob J. De Ryke 17198309, Co. B. A.S.T.R.P., Box 123, Brookings, S.D.
Just a weenie, Jake D. R.
P.S. All first termers are called weenies here.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 23, 1945 p 2
Pvt. Jacob De Ryke Writes From Brookings, So. Dak.
Sept. 26, 1945
Dear Sioux Center Friends:
It has been some time since I wrote the last time. We still don’t get too much time to write so I shall take this means to inform all of you as to how I and mother are getting along.
One of the new fellows is letting me use his typewriter, so I’m taking advantage of this chance because it is faster than writing by hand.
We do an awfully lot of running in Physical Training. We have to run the three miles in 25 minutes or less. That is one thing I don’t mind. P. T. and Military are the two things that I like the best here. I like them better than the studying.
Today in Military we took apart part of the Springfield rifles we are using here. It was the first time I had done it and I ran into a little trouble before I got done. The fun will really start when we have to take them apart and put them together again blindfolded.
This noon the whole Company was put to work policing up the grounds in preparation for the arrival tomorrow of visitors. We are to have an inspection by a Colonel, two Majors and a first Lieutenant.
I don’t believe I mentioned that we have a new lieutenant here now. He has recently arrived from Europe. That makes one more officer to salute.
We have a cadet officer system here. They pick Section Leaders at random. These section leaders serve two weeks, then if they have done a fairly good job they get promoted to Platoon Sergeant or Leader. From these jobs one gets promoted as high as the Cadet Colonel. This is a rather nice system since it gives all the fellows a chance to get practice at leading.
Quite a few of the fellows have already flunked out. We had 29 in our section, now we have 24 and 5 of these 24 are on two weeks probation to get their grades up. Yours truly isn’t one of these which makes him feel pretty good. Time to sign off for the evening.
Jake De Ryke
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 4, 1945 p 2
Pvt. Jake De Ryke, who is a student at the South Dakota state college at Brookings is enjoying a week’s Christmas vacation with relatives here.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 27, 1845 p 10
Jake De Ryke Writes From Fort Lewis, Washington
28 March, 1946
Dear Sioux Center Friends:
I finally have found an opportunity to catch up on a few of my letters. At present I am working as Company Clerk. The regular Co. Clerk went to the Hospital and I was called in to take his place. The position is temporary but it does give me a vacation from training.
Quite a bit has occurred since I left S. C. on the 8th of February. I spent approximately 10 days at Ft. Leavenworth dodging KP and details. On the evening of the 18th I, with seven of my buddies from our old outfit at Brookings, boarded the train on which I was to make the trip to Ft. Lewis. On Tuesday we travelled through very barren country, but on the following day we travelled through very beautiful, mountainous country. When we woke up on Thursday morning we found that apparently the vegetation had grown greener overnight. We soon realized the reason. The climate was mild and there was plenty of rain.
We loafed around for quite some time, finally starting our basic training on the 18th. This was five weeks which were spent uselessly.
Of course, now that I am working as clerk I still haven’t accomplished much training and I don’t plan on getting much of it very soon.
Mother arrived safely some time ago and is already suitably settled and busy working.
My address is as follows:
Pvt. Jacob J. De Ryke 17198309
Co. B. 1st Tng. Bn. BTS
Ft. Lewis, Washington
It is still raining and has rained all of the time since I arrived. Certainly is very disagreeable weather.
Time for evening chow so I’ll close.
Jake De Ryke
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 4, 1946 p 2
Dear Ed: June 20, 1946
Just a brief letter tonight to inform you of my change of address. I have been shopped to Ft. Belvoir, Va. and am waiting to start topographical drafting technical school. I have been waiting here for approximately a month already, but it finally looks as though I’m going to start.
I have been receiving the News very regularly and really do enjoy reading it. My present address is:
Pvt. Jacob J. De Ryke 17198309
2nd Plt. COD 8th Bn. E.T.C.
Ft. Belvoir, Virginia
Time for lights out so I’ll close and hit the sac.
Yours,
Pvt. Jake D. R.
Source: Sioux Center News June 27, 1946 p 2
Fort Belvoir, Va.
7 July, 1946
Dear Ed:
I would like to inform you of another change in my address. It now is:
Pvt. Jacob De Ryke 17198309
Stu. Co. G. S.S.R.
Ft. Belvoir, Va.
Would you publish this address in the News. I would appreciate this very much.
Yours,
Pvt. Jacob De Ryke
Source: Sioux Center News July 18, 1946 p 10
Pvt. Jacob J. De Ryke 17198309
Stu. Co. E-S.S.R.
Ft. Belvoir, Virginia
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 29, 1946 p 10
Pvt. Jake De Ryke arrived home on Saturday to spend a short furlough with relatives and friends in Sioux Center. Jake has just graduated from a three months course of study in Engineering school at Ft. Belvoir, Va. He will leave again on Thursday of this week to report at Camp Kilmore, New Jersey from where he expects to be sent to Panama.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 31, 1946 p 12
JAKE DE RYKE WRITES FROM PANAMA
Dear News Force;
I have finally reached my destination and have a permanent address, which is as follows:
Pvt. Jacob J. De Ryke 17198309
Hq. Co., 660th Engr. Base Topo. Bn.
APO 829, c/o Postmaster
New Orleans, La.
I have been stationed at Fort Wm. D. Davis which is located in the Canal Zone approximately 5 miles from Colon, Republic of Panama. I am assigned to Battalion Headquarters where I am working as a clerk.
The rainy season is rapidly drawing to a close, so it only rains once a day for a few hours. With the advent of the dry season we are busy getting our tennis team in condition for the approaching Fort Davis tourney and for the Canal Zone tourney which will begin in January. With the temperature in the eighties and the humidity approximately 98 percent this is proving to be a hot job.
I have to get back to work again so I’ll sign off for now.
A Perspiring GI,
Jake De Ryke
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 12, 1946 p 8
Fort William D. Davis
Panama Canal Zone
May 5, 1947
Dear Ed:
I received two issues of the “News” this morning and as a result I have spent an interesting evening reviewing all of the interesting occurrences in Sioux Center.
Not that there is nothing of interest occurring here at the “Crossroads of the World”. The 660th is having its usual troubles, this time it has been the instigator of a situation that is developing into international complications between the Panamanian and U. S. Governments. Of course this helps to relieve the monotony of being in the Army. The antics of our Battalion, combined with the excellent dry season weather have made my vacation here quite enjoyable.
The end of the rainy season heralded my arrival, and the arrival of the next rainy season has resulted in an urge to leave Panama. I expect to be on the next ship that sails from here bound for New Orleans.
Since I am leaving Panama I would like to have you discontinue sending the “News”. I really have enjoyed it immensely during my tour of duty in the Army and wish to express my thanks for all of the news it has given me.
Sincerely yours,
Jacob J. De Ryke
Source: Sioux Center News May 15, 1947 p 16
Thirty Veterans File Discharges
White discharge papers are coming into the County Recorder’s office now in sparse numbers, over thirty have been recorded the past two months, mostly Army discharges, but a few from the Navy as noted:
…..
Jacob De Ryke, Sioux Center
…..
Sioux Center News July 24, 1947 p 8
