Awaiting Call to Army
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Heusinkveld and two children of Hynes, Calif. arrived here last Tuesday to remain until Elmer gets his call to the army. His family will remain with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Ten Napel near Ireton.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 5, 1942, p 7
December Draft Call Sets Record
The following named registrants have been ordered to report for an Army examination on Dec. 8th. If they are found qualified for army service they will return for a week’s furlough before being called to active duty: …..
Elmer J. Heusinkveld, Ireton …..
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 3, 1942, p 1
Elmer J. Heusinkveld, son of John Heusinkveld, is in a new camp in Alabama, close to the Gulf of Mexico.
He writes it’s rainy there, lots of water and no sunshine. Most of the men there are married. The camp where he is in is eight miles from Gadsen, Ala. He left here the 16th of Dec. His wife and son David James are staying with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Ten Napel at Ireton.
Following is his address: Pvt. Elmer J. Heusinkveld, Co. D. 2nd Cuis. Tng. Regt. Camp Sibert, Alabama
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 31, 1942
New address of Elmer J. Heusinkveld is as follows: Hq. 84th Cml. Bn., Camp Rucker, Alabama. He has just been transferred from Camp Sibert.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 8, 1043, p 8
(transcribers note: Cml. Bn. is the abbreviation for Chemical Morter Battalion)
John Heusinkveld received word Wednesday from his son Elmer that he expected to be sent across and sent a change of address: Pvt. Elmer J. Heusinkveld Hdq. And Hdq. Co 84th Cml. Bn. APO 3929, c.o. Postmaster New York City, New York
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 29, 1943, p 10
Elmer J. Heusinkveld has this address change: Hdq. And Hdq. Co. 84th Cml. Bn. APO 700, c.o. Postmaster New York City, New York
Source: Sioux Center News July 22, 1943, p 2
Elmer Heusinkveld writes from North Africa Aug. 9, 1943
Dear Ed, I am not much of a letter writer, but will do my best at writing a few lines. First of all I want you to know that the newspaper is catching up with me. Slow but sure. No matter how old they are I am always glad to get them. It keeps me informed as who’s who and where they are. I also want to thank all the folks at home for the letters I’ve received since I left for the army last Dec. 17. They never will know how much they mean to boys in the service.
The army turned out to be a bigger experience than I ever thought it would be. I’ve seen a lot already and think I’ll see a lot more before I set foot on the ground back home. But pray every day, that the day may not be too far away when all the boys will be home. When I left for California that was the last time I saw most of the boys I used to chum around with.
When I got back home last fall things had certainly changed from what they were when I left. Now I am doing my best to catch up with the boys that are in North Africa, but so far no luck. I am or was a few miles from the Vanden Berg boys, but from what I have been able to gather they have moved again. I wrote a letter to Gary and asked him to look me up if he was still in the neighborhood. If I miss them this time I am pretty sure that I will be able to catch up with them before long, as I have their address now and will write them now and then, and find out where they are at.
I have a change in my APO number, it’s 534 instead of 700. I want to say Hello and wish the best of luck to all the boys in service and would like to tell the boys in the states who haven’t seen active or overseas duty, if you go across you’re in for a lot of new experience, and it’s not quite like they write it in a book. As ever, Pvt. Elmer J. Heusinkveld.
Pvt. Elmer J. Heusinkveld Hdq. And Hdq. Co., 34th Cml. Bn. APO 534, c.o. Postmaster New York city, N. Y.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 19, 1943, p 8
PFC and Mrs. Elmer Heusinkveld are the parents of a baby girl born last Fiday evening at the Community Hospital in Hawarden. She has one brother and one sister. Her daddy has been overseas for over four months. He entered the service last December and never had a furlough.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 9, 1943, p 2
(Excerpt from Ted Vanden Berg letter) I had the privilege of seeing brother Gary a short time ago, which was also a happy reunion, since I don’t get to see him as often as I’d like. He showed me a couple letters he received from Elmer Heusinkveld who happens to be in the near vicinity, and hopes to contact one of us soon.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 9, 1943, p 2
NEWS OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM
Yankee Christmas Spirit
Elmer Heusinkveld, son of John Heusinkveld, writes from Italy that he has never yet met anyone he knew since he left the States over a year ago. He said they invented their own system for celebrating Christmas, by having one of the officers dressed up as Santa Claus and rigging up some Italian Shrubbery to look like a Christmas tree. Newsmen from United States took pictures and said they would appear in American papers, but didn’t name their papers so we don’t know whether they will appear in any in this part of the country or not.
Source: Sioux Center News, Thursday, January 20, 1944
Elmer Heusinkveld and Peter Westra met in Italy on January 9th, coming out of church services one Sunday morning. Only shortly before, Elmer had written home saying he thought it strange he had met no one whom he knew after he left the states. Peter Dykstra, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Dykstra of Perkins, didn’t know Elmer but the latter said they had left Orange City together after their induction into the army.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 10, 1944, p 2
Mrs. Elmer Heusinkveld is looking forward to a visit from her husband who landed in New York last week with Clark’s army from Italy.
Source: Lemars Globe Post June 14, 1945, p 6
IRETON SOLDIER GETS DISCHARGE
Pfc. Elmer Heusinkveld of Ireton arrived home from the war last week, having received his honorable discharge from the army on points. He was mustered out at Jefferson Barracks after he had accumulated 109 points for service in Africa and Italy. Upon his arrival home, he made the acquaintance of his 21-month-old daughter, Marcia Kay, who was born on the same day that he landed in Italy. There are two older children in the family.
Source: Hawarden Independent June 21, 1945, p 1
LOCAL SERVICEMAN DISCHARGED FROM ITALIAN THEATER
Pfc. Elmer Heusinkveld arrived home Tuesday after an absence of 2 ½ years spent mostly overseas with the U.S. 5th Army. He received his discharge at Jefferson Barracks early this week. Elmer is the first serviceman from this area who has served in Italy to receive his discharge on the point basis, his points totaling 109. He was notified May 6th that he would be discharged. He left Italy shortly thereafter – spent Memorial Day in Trinidad and arrived in the States after a journey of some 10,000 miles. After the very rough winter, he has regained his normal weight and is looking very fit. He is busy getting acquainted with his 21-month-old daughter, Marcia Kay, who was born the same day Elmer landed at Salerno, Italy. The two older children remembered their Daddy very well.
Source: Sioux Center News June 14, 1945, p 1
ELMER HEUSINKVELD
Pictured here is Elmer Heusinkveld whose discharge story was run in last week’s issue of the News. He had a total of 109 points and had been stationed in Italy for over two years.
Source: Sioux Center News June 21, 1945, p 1 (photo included)
