60 Men To Leave Aug. 18 Get Two Week Furlough
The following 60 registrants have been sent Orders to Report for Army Examination on August 18th. These men will be sent for examination and if qualified, sworn in and given two weeks furlough before being sent to reception center for actual induction.
… 2079 Kosters, Gerrit William, Orange City
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 13, 1942, p 1
50 Of 68 Men Take Bus Here For Army Tues.
Others Enlist in Navy, Leave From Other Points or Join Air Corps
… The list of selectees shrank six men when William Henry Kosters of Hull, Marvin Mouw of Sioux Center, Gustav A. Geauer of Alton, Willis R. Helder of Hospers, Henry Nels of Sheldon, and Gerrit W. Kosters of Orange City joined the Navy last week. …
Source: Sioux County Capital Aug. 20, 1942, p 1
Gerrit Wm. Kosters called his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters from New York Saturday. He is aboard the Battleship South Dakota.
Source: Sioux County Capital Dec. 24, 1942, p 8
Seaman William Kosters, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters of Orange City, is home for a short furlough from the war. He has been in the midst of the fighting in the South Pacific on one of the country’s new battleships and has but a few days before he must return east.
Source: Sioux County Capital Jan. 21, 1943, p 1
Three Sons In Service
Gerrit William Kosters, S/1c U.S.N.R., U.S.S. South Dakota Div. 11, c/o Fleet Postmaster, New York, New York.
Pfc. Allen Kosters, A. A. F. 797th T. S. S. Barracks 309, Seymour Johnson Field, Goldsboro, N. C.
Henry Kosters A/S, Co. 372_43, Camp Waldron, U.S.N.T.S. Farragut, Idaho. Henry left for the navy recently and is getting his boot training at Farragut. He is a member of one of the choirs there and says it is a real thrill to sing in a choir consisting of 150 voices.
The above 3 young men are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters.
Source: Sioux County Capital July 8, 1943, p 7
William Kosters, sea. 1/c telephoned his parents Tuesday evening from Norfolk, Va.
Source: Sioux County Capital Aug. 19, 1943, p 8
Dear Editor, I received two copies of the Capital yesterday, and although they were a few months old they were nevertheless appreciated. Maybe the folks have told you about the change in my address, but in case they haven’t it is now San Francisco again instead of New York.
I have two brothers in the service, Allen in the Army Air Corps and Bud (Henry) in the Navy. Allen wrote me a while back and said he thought that this “Southern hospitality” people talk so much about is just a myth. He was in North Carolina for some time. Well, I will readily agree with him on that score.
I ventured into the Federal Barber shop one fine day at Norfolk, Va. I was on liberty and felt that a shave would be appropriate, while I would just lay down and relax. Well, this so-called barber started lathering my face with his hands (I don’t think he had a brush). He never used a hot towel and directly started to shave me with a dull razor. He messed around a while and finally finished the job, or thought he did. I got up and looked in the mirror, and I’m telling you, I was burned up. I says “how much?” He says 50c and in the meantime already had another victim in the chair. I gave him a half dollar and said, “Mr. that’s the poorest shave I’ve had in many a moon”. He just looked at me. I’m telling you that guy gave me a shave which Oordt and Van Bemmel would be ashamed to do free of charge. Then while he was putting some lotion on my face I thought he was trying for a knock-out. He must have thought I was slap-happy the way he slapped me.
All other places I’ve been we service men are treated swell with one exception. This is at a place we were in the North Atlantic, outside of the U. S. There the people (altho they were white like ourselves) wouldn’t even speak to us. I found out the reason for that but time and space will not permit details. Whenever I’d meet one of these people I figured two could play that game, so I’d just ignore him (or her) and think of the song ‘I get along without you very well’.
Well, I hope that at this time next year I can be throwing corn ears at the bang-board instead of shells at the Japs. We’ve thrown several their way already, with very good results, and I fear the worst is yet to come for Tojo’s little yellow rascals. I’m afraid they’re going to lose so much ‘honorable face’ before it’s all over, that their own mothers won’t recognize them, if and when they get home.
Hello to all my friends in the service, who get to read this, I hope you’re all getting along as well as I am. Sincerely yours, Gerrit William Kosters Sea 1/C U.S.N.R. U. S. S. South Dakota Div. 11, c/o Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, California
Source: Sioux County Capital Nov 4, 1943, p 6
Soldiers & Sailors
… Gerrit Wm. Kosters S 1/C U.S.N.R. U.S.S. So. Dakota Div. 11 c/o Fleet Postmaster San Francisco, California
Source: Sioux County Capital Feb. 3, 1944, p 5
In Navy (photo) GERRIT WILLIAM KOSTERS
Gerrit William Kosters, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters, has been in the Navy since August 1942. He has had one furlough in January 1943. Gerrit William has been on sea duty all but 2 months.
He has two other brothers in the service, Allan who is in the army and Henry who is also in the Navy.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 3, 1944, p 1
Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters received word from their son Henry that he met his brother Bill somewhere in the Pacific. The brothers met on Easter Sunday when Bill came aboard Henry’s ship, and they spent about three hours together and had Easter dinner together on Henry’s ship. The next day Henry had the privilege of visiting Bill aboard his ship. It was a real treat for the brothers to be able to meet and they are already looking forward to their next meeting.
Bill has been in the Navy since August 1942. Henry has been in almost a year. Another brother Allen is in the Air Corps stationed at Dalhart, Texas. He was recently promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Source: Sioux County Capital April 27, 1944, p 7
Gt. Wm. Kosters S 1/c U. S. N. R has been in the Navy 19 months, 16 of which were spent on active sea duty in foreign waters. He has served all the time on the same battleship and has sailed the seas from the North Atlantic to the South Pacific. There are 2 Chaplains aboard the ship and the crew members can attend Bible class every night of the week. In the last 2 months Seaman Kosters has not been off the ship.
Source: Sioux County Capital May 11, 1944, p 7
Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters of Orange City have received word that their son Wm. had arrived in the states and he is expected to come home the first week in August after serving in the south Pacific for some time.
Source: Sioux Center News July 27, 1944, p 8
Mr. and Mrs. Jake Duistermars and daughters drove to Orange City on Sunday afternoon to visit at the Gerrit Kosters home where son William was home on a leave and who left again on Tuesday. He spent two weeks at home while his ship was in repair.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 17, 1944, p 10
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Vander Zwaag announce the engagement of their daughter, Miss Elizabeth, to Gerrit William Kosters, Seaman 1/c, U.S.N.R., son of Mr. and Mrs. Gt. Kosters of Orange City.
Source: Sioux County Capital Aug. 24, 1944, p 2
Seaman 1/C Henry Kosters called his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters, Friday evening from San Francisco. Seaman Kosters expects a leave in September after having spent the last seven months at sea. Another son, Seaman 1/C Wm. Kosters, who had been home on leave from Seattle, Wash., left Thursday morning.
Source: Alton Democrat Aug. 31, 1944, p 6
Killed In Action T/Sgt. Allen Kosters Dies In Italy
Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters received word this week of the death of their son, Allen, Technical Sergeant in the U. S. Army Air Corps, who was killed in action in the Italian theatre of war on October 5. Allen had completed 31 missions over enemy territory at the time of his death. Sgt. Kosters was born July 8, 1919, and entered the Air Corps in November of 1942. He was stationed in a number of camps in the U. S. for training, and went overseas three months ago. He is survived by his parents, two brothers, Gerrit William and Henry, both in the Navy on duty in the Pacific, and by three sisters.
Memorial Service Memorial Services for T/Sgt. Allen Kosters will be held in the Second Christian Reformed Church at 1:30 p.m. Friday, with members of the John C. Press man Post of the American Legion in attendance. All servicemen home on furlough are asked to attend. Orange City stores will close for the service. Rev. Mr. Jabaay, former pastor of the church will come from Chicago to conduct the service.
Source: Sioux County Capital Oct. 26, 1944, p 1
William and Henry Kosters, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters, met recently in the South Pacific. Henry spent 4 hours on Bill’s ship. William is now coxswain.
Source: Sioux County Capital Dec. 21, 1944, p 10
Gerrit Wm. Kosters Cox., Div. 11, c/o Fleet Postoffice, San Francisco.
Source: Alton Democrat Dec. 28, 1944, p 7
USS SPENCE LOST
The U. S. Destroyer Spence was lost recently in a Pacific typhoon according to radio reports Wednesday evening. Henry Kosters, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters, was on the Spence. No word has yet been received here as to the survivors. Three destroyers were lost in the typhoon with about 400 men listed as missing.
Source: Sioux County Capital Jan. 11, 1945, p 1
Orange City Boy Lost In Typhoon Off Philippines
Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters of Orange City received a telegram Sunday informing them that their son, Henry A. Seaman First Class, was missing on the USS Spence, one of the three destroyers lost in a typhoon in the Western Pacific.
The family on Wednesday heard the news over the radio of the sinking of the ship but had hopes that their son might be one of the survivors. The telegram from the Navy department expressed regret at the delay in notifying the family, but the list of casualties had just been received. There were 24 survivors on the Spence. There is still some cause for hope that Henry may have been rescued and is still unreported, but the family regard it as unlikely that he escaped the storm which sank the ship. He was 20 years of age and had been in the Navy for two years, with boot training at Farragut, Idaho. He had been on duty in the storekeeper’s division in the Pacific for a year. His brother Allen was killed in action Oct. 5th in Italy.
Another brother, oldest of the four brothers, Gerrit William, has long been on duty in the Pacific and has seen much action. Others surviving are John, recently returned to Orange City from California; Mrs. Robert Niekerk of Washington D. C. whose husband, S. Sgt. Niekerk is back from two years’ service overseas; Mrs. Floyd Vander Griend, Hull; and Frieda at home.
Source: Alton Democrat Jan. 18, 1945, p 1
Here is the address of Gerrit Wm. Kosters, whom Nell Van Essen of Grand Rapids, Mich. inquired about in a letter this past week: Gerrit William Kosters, S 1/c U.S.N.R. U.S.S. O’Bannon, c/o Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, Calif.
Henry and Allen, brothers of Gerrit William Kosters, lost their lives. Henry’s ship went down in typhoon and Allen was killed in action in the European theater of the war.
Source: Sioux Center News May 3, 1945, p 2
Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters received two letters from their son Bill this week. He is with the Navy in the Okinawa area. Bill’s ship has been in service three years and has been in a number of historic battles.
Source: Sioux County Capital May 3, 1945, p 2
Furloughs Name, Address and Expiration Date of Furlough … Gerrit William Kosters, Orange City ___ 7-21-45 …
Source: Sioux County Capital June 28, 1945, p 1
SAILOR TO WED
Friday at eight o’clock in the Chapel of the First Reformed Church, Miss Elizabeth Vander Zwaag, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Vander Zwaag, will be married to Gerrit William Kosters, United States Navy. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters. A reception will follow the wedding in the church parlors.
Source: Sioux County Capital June 28, 1945, p 2
Mr. and Mrs. Jake Duistermars and daughters drove to Orange City on Friday evening where they visited at the Gerrit Kosters home whose son William came home that day on leave from service in the navy.
Source: Sioux Center News June 28, 1945, p 6
Sioux County Men Discharged From Service
Servicemen who have filed discharges in the Sioux County Recorder’s office since August 29 include the following: … Gerrit Wm. Kosters, Orange City …
Source: Sioux Center News Sept 13, 1945, p 1
VANDER ZWAAG – KOSTERS
At the First Reformed Church Chapel Friday evening occurred the wedding of Miss Elizabeth Vander Zwaag, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Vander Zwaag, and Gerrit William Kosters USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Kosters.
… The bridegroom was in his Navy uniform, and his attendant, his brother, John Kosters, wore blue. … The couple are spending their honeymoon at the Lakes. He will leave to report for service at Great Lakes, Ill. July 21. Mrs. Kosters will accompany her husband.
Source: Sioux County Capital July 5, 1945, p 2
A/S John Brantsen is expected home this weekend having finished his boot training at Great Lakes, Ill. John is at present strokeman for the A.B. and C. Cutter boat races. Last Thursday he enjoyed a visit from his cousin Coxswain and Mrs. Gerrit William Kosters of Orange City. Coxswain Kosters will be stationed at the Great Lakes for the duration. John also enjoys visits from his brother-in-law A/S Paul Den Hartog of Orange City, who is also in training there and just two blocks from John.
Source: Sioux Center News July 26, 1945, p 8
Gerrit William Kosters, 705 Clinton Avenue, Ottumwa
Source: Sioux County Capital Aug. 2, 1945, p 7
DISCHARGED FROM SERVICE (photo) GERRIT WM. KOSTERS
Gt. WM. Kosters, son of Gerrit Kosters of Orange City received his discharge and arrived home Saturday night from Ottumwa where he has been stationed since he returned to the states last June. He was in service 3 years overseas.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 6, 1945, p 1
Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954, Claim Number 200207
Gerrit William Kosters, was born January 21, 1910, at Sioux Center, Iowa, and was living at Orange City, Iowa prior to enlisting in the navy and entering the service on August 15, 1942, at Des Moines, Iowa. He served at the Naval Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa; the Naval Training Station, San Diego, California; the Receiving Station at Pearl Harbor; on the USS South Dakota; with the Naval Air Station at Ottumwa, Iowa; and the Pers. Sep. Center at Minneapolis, Minn. He left for foreign service on October 1, 1942, returned on June 15, 1945, and was honorably discharged on September 1, 1945. His application for bonus pay was filed on July 15, 1949, for which he received $450.00.
Source: ancestry.com
