Sioux County

 

Pvt. James Koops

 

 

Draft Board Name Classification 

… James Koops 2-A to 2-C … 

Source: Sioux County Capital Feb. 3, 1944, p 1 

Draft Board Minutes of December 26, 1944 

Name Classification … James Koops 2-C to 1-A … 

Source: Sioux County Capital Dec. 28, 1944, p 1 

Draft Will Dig Deep Into Iowa Farm Manpower This Year 

Sioux County Men Left Sunday For Ft. Snelling 

The following men left Sunday, Jan. 7th, for Fort Snelling, Minn., for their pre-induction examination: … James Koops, Sioux Center … 

Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 11, 1945, p 1 32 

Sioux County Men Are Inducted 

The following men left Sunday, Feb. 18th, for Fort Snelling, Minn. to be inducted into the Armed Services: … Koops, James, Sioux Center … 

Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 22, 1945, p 1 

Pvt. James Koops, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Koops of Sioux Center, recently inducted into the service and is now stationed at this address: Co. C. 156th Bn., 96th Regt. I.R.T.C., Camp Hood, Texas. 

Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 15, 1945, p 5 

The correct address of James Koops is: Co. C. 156th Regt. Bn., 32nd Regt. I.R.T.C., Barracks No. 2, Camp Hood, Texas. 

Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 29, 1945, p 2 

Jim Koops, son of Wm. Koops, Writes from Camp Hood, Texas. 

5/5/45 Dear Ed and Marie: Well I have a little spare time tonight, so I just decided to write you a few lines for the Sioux Center News. Well, I am fine and in the best of health and hope to hear the same from you folks back home. 

Well, how’s the weather in good old Sioux Center, I thought perhaps you were having a snowstorm out there, because it’s really been cold here the last couple days. Yesterday and last night we had to go out on our marching with our overcoats, so you can imagine it was pretty cold here in Texas. But besides these last few days, we really had nice weather so far in our training. We had quite a few rainy days in our cycle already, that makes marching not very nice, this Texas mud sticks on our feet like gum. And then we have a lot of extra work with keeping our equipment clean, our rifles have to be cleaned every night after we get in from the field. And they have to be shining like a mirror. Well, it’s not bad as long as it stays dry. 

Well by Saturday night we will have the fourth week completed of our cycle, and then we have 11 weeks left yet, then I suppose we will be transferred to a different branch. 

Well, I like the infantry O. K. It’s been pretty rough training so far, but they say the first five weeks are the hardest, from there on it’s not bad at all. We put in a lot of hours the last couple weeks. We usually have to go out after supper too and stay out until about 12:00 or 1:00 at night, so that means it’s a pretty long day from 5:00 in the morning until midnight. 

The last three weeks we will have bivouacs then we will stay out for three weeks without coming in the camp, or the barrack area in other words. We had about six meals in the field now. Then we have to take our full field and combat pack along with us. We have our mess kit with us all the time. That’s not bad at all only if we’d have a shady place to sit and eat our meals, but there isn’t many trees out here in the wild west. 

Well, I suppose you folks all know that Milton Van Muyden is with me too, that’s kinda nice that I’m with quite a few Sioux County boys. Milton and I get to see each other every day. We’re in the same company, but in a different platoon. I’m in the Second platoon and Milt is in the fourth platoon. Our company is broken up in four platoons and there is about 60 men in each platoon, so there’s approximately 250 men in our company, and there’s four companies in a battalion. A, B, C, D. Boy this army time is sure hard to get used to. I suppose the longer a fellow is in the better he can understand it. 

Next week we will have another busy week; we’re going on rifle range and we leave camp at 6:00 and don’t get back again until 8:00 at night. Well, Ed, I have been getting the Sioux Center News every week yet so far, and I really can enjoy myself by reading the news of the men and women in the service. It sure makes a soldier feel good to get news from his home town, and friends. 

Well, it’s just about time for the lights to go out so I better sign off, or else I’ll be sitting in the dark pretty soon. And I want to thank all the friends who have written me since I’ve been in the army. And may God grant His blessings upon you at home and us soldiers till we meet again. And we will hope and pray that this war may end soon. Good night. As ever, Jim Koops 

Source: Sioux Center News April 12, 1945, p 2 

Furloughs Name, Address and Expiration Date of Furlough 

… James Koops, Sioux Center___7-27-45 … 

Source: Sioux County Capital July 19, 1945, p 1 

Pvt. Milton Van Muyden, son of Mr. and Mrs. Case Van Muyden, arrived home last Friday morning on furlough from Camp Hood, Texas, having completed his basic training there. He will leave again for his new station on the 25th of this month. James Koops, who was also stationed there, came home too. 

Source: Sioux Center News July 19, 1945, p 2 

Pvt. Milton Van Muyden and Pvt. James Koops were entertained at dinner at the Ed Holtrop home on Wednesday evening. 

Source: Sioux Center News July 26, 1945, p 4 

The Zeutenhorst relatives held a family gathering in the town park on Monday evening in honor of Pvt. James Koops who leaves again on Thursday morning to report at Fort Riley, Kansas, after enjoying a 15-days furlough at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Koops. 

Source: Sioux Center News July 26, 1945, p 6 

Pvt. James Koops Co. L. 3rd Bn. 1st Regt. AGF RD No. 3 Fort Riley, Kansas 

Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 2, 1945, p 1 

Pvt. James Koops has this new address: Co. R. 6th Regt. A.G.F.R.D. No. 2, Fort Ord, Calif. 

Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 16, 1945, p 4 (photo) 

PVT. JAMES KOOPS 

Pvt. James Koops has been in the service since the 18th of Feb. of this year. He received his training at Camp Hood, Texas and recently was home on a furlough. At present he is at Fort Ord, Calif. and his address is: Co. R. 6th Regt., A.G.F.R.D. No. 2, Fort Ord, Calif. Jim is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Koops of Sioux Center. 

Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 23, 1945, p 2 

Pvt. James Koops has this new correct address: Casual Co. 69, Platoon 2, APO 21232, c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif. 

Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 23, 1945, p 8 

Pvt. James Koops, son of Wm. Koops has this new address: 418 Replac. Co., APO 291, c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif. He is now on Luzon.

Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 27, 1945, p 10 

B. Koops Dies After Long Illness … and 13 grandchildren three of whom Bernard, James and Albert Koops are in the service. … 

Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 11, 1945, p 1 

Change of Address: Pvt. James Koops,  Co. L. 127 Inf. APO 32, c/o Postmaster San Francisco, Calif. 

Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 11, 1945, p 12 

James Koops, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Koops, was recently promoted to Pfc. 

Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 24, 1946, p 10 

Pfc. James Koops,  Hq. Co. 1st Bn. 27 Inf., APO 25, c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif. 

Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 21, 1946, p 12 

HOME FROM JAPAN (photo) JIM KOOPS 

Jim Koops, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Koops, arrived in the states last week and called his parents Sunday from Ft. Sheridan. He is expected home this week with his discharge. Jim has been in Japan for the past 19 months. 

Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 10, 1946, p 7 

Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954, Claim Number 115965 

James Koops, was born on January 31, 1925, at Sioux Center, Iowa, where he was still residing prior to entering the army on February 19, 1945, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. He served with the 32nd Division and the 25th Division, left for overseas service on February 19, 1945, returned on October 1, 1946, and was honorably discharged on November 18, 1946. His application for bonus pay was filed on May 16, 1949, for which he received $245.00. 

Source: ancestry.com