Sioux County

 

Pfc. Dick J. "Paul" Kruizenga 

 

37 Men Called To Arms
The following young men have been called for service in the United States Army, and will leave within the near future:
...
1252 Dick J. Kruizenga, Soo Center
...
Source: Sioux Center News May 21, 1942, p 1

Among the young men who left yesterday from the Sioux Center vicinity for army service were: ....., Dick J. Kruizenga (Paul),...,. The call was for thirty-seven men, some of those called have enlisted prior to this.
Source: Sioux Center News May 28, 1942, p 8

Sioux Center-
Paul Kruizenga, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kruizenga, sends his address: Pvt. Dick J. Kruizenga, Troop B., 5th Sq., C.R.T.C., Fort Riley, Kansas 2251-T. Mrs. Paul Kruizenga is making her home in Rock Valley at the home of her brother, Martin Vande Velde.
Source: Sioux Center News June 25, 1942, p 8

Mrs. Dick J. Kruizenga left for a visit with her husband, Pvt. Kruizenga, at Fort Riley, Kansas.
Source: Rock Valley Bee July 24, 1942, p 5

Mrs. Paul Kruizenga returned home from a visit of two weeks with her husband at Fort Riley, Kansas.
Source: Rock Valley Bee Aug. 7, 1942, p 5

Paul Kruizenga Goes To Richmond, Virginia
Pvt. Dick J. Kruizenga, better known as "Paul", son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kruizenga of Sioux Center had been transferred from Fort Riley, Kansas to Richmond, Virginia with the U.S. army. His new address is: Pvt. Dick J. Kruizenga, Co. C. 21st Engineers Aviation, Richmond Army Air Base, Richmond, Va. Mrs. Dick Kruizenga is living in Rock Valley.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 13, 1942, p 6

Pvt. Dick Kruizenga Address
Pvt. Dick J. Kruizenga, better known as "Paul" Kruizenga in Sioux Center may be reached by this address: Pvt. Dick J. Kruizenga, Co. C. 21st Engineers Aviation, Richmond Army Air Base, Richmond, Va.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 27, 1942, p 8

Pvt. D. Kruizenga Sent To New York
Pvt. Dick J. Kruizenga, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kruizenga of Sioux Center has been transferred with the U. S. army from Richmond, Virginia to a New York address. His wife is living at the Martin Vande Velde home in Rock Valley. "Paul" as he was known in Sioux Center may be reached by this address: Pvt. Dick J. Kruizenga 37126162, Co. C. 21st Engineers Aviation, APO 3126, c.o. Postmaster, New York, N.Y.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 10, 1942, p 8

Dick Kruizenga Stays in Va.
Pvt. Dick Kruizenga notified his parents that he would remain in Virginia and not go to New York as planned. His is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kruizenga of Sioux Center. His address: Pvt. Kick Kruizenga, Co. C. 21st Engineers Aviation, Richmond Army Base, Richmond, Virginia.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 24, 1942, p 8

Promoted To Private First Class
Dick J. Kruizenga, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kruizenga of Sioux Center now has the rank of Private First Class in the U.S. Army. His address is: PFC Dick J. Kruizenga, Company "A", 21st Engineers (AVN) First Battalion, Langley Field, Virginia.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 15, 1942, p 10

Mr. and Mrs. John Kruizenga had a telegram Monday morning form their son Dick who is in Africa, saying he was alright and giving his new address which is as follows:
PFC Dick J. Kruizenga
Co. A 21st Engr. AVN
APO 762, c.o. Postmaster
New York City, N.Y.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 7, 1943, p 8

PFC Dick Kruizenga
Co. A. 21st Engrs. Avn.
APO 528, c.o. Postmaster
New York City, N.Y.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 16, 1943, p 10

In Italy
(photo)
CPL. PAUL DICK KRUIZENGA
Cpl. Paul Kruizenga, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kruizenga entered the service in May 1942, and left the states the following October. He has never had a furlough. He is married to the former Janet Vander Velde of Rock Valley and has one baby daughter whom he has never seen. She was born in October 1942, the same month that he left the states. Paul is in the Engineering Bn. and drives a truck which was also his occupation before entering the service. Mrs. Kruizenga is making her home with her parents at Rock Valley, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. John Kruizenga have two sons in the service. Peter Kruizenga, who is stationed in Camp Roberts, California is also married and has one daughter. Peter entered the service in May.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 10, 1944, p 1

IOWANS BACK FROM EUROPE - Returning Iowans smile at sight of New York before leaving transport which brought them from Fort Said. Front row, from left: Sgt. Russell L Norton, Cedar Rapids (1225 5th St. SE); Cpl. Dick J. Kruizenga, Rock Valley; Staff Sgt. Emile Frye, Dows; Sgt. James H. Miller, Grinnell. Back row, from left: Tech. Sgt. Carroll F. Baxter, Britt; Tech. Sgt. Vernon G. Rowe, Davenport; Tech. Sgt. Harley N. Grossman, Honey Creek.
Source: Cedar Rapids Gazette June 20, 1945, p 32

Dick Kruizenga Expected Home Before Transfer
(photo)
One hundred twenty-one airstrips Built in Algeria, Tunisia and Italy is the record of the unit in which T/Cpl. Dick Kruizenga, whose wife is the former Janet Vander Velde of Rock Valley, belongs. Dick is expected home soon. The following public relations story tells a little more of what he has been doing.
WITH THE AAF ENGINEER COMMAND IN ITALY - Thirty-one months service in North Africa and Italy behind him, Cpl. Technician Dick J. Kruizenga, whose wife and daughter Sharon live in Rock Valley, Iowa, left for the United States recently. The son of Mr. John Kruizenga of Sioux Center, he will return to the army for further assignment after a furlough home.
He has been a member of the First Battalion, 21st Engineer Aviation Regiment, which landed November 18, 1942, at Casablanca, French Morocco, as part of the second "wave" in the North African invasion. The unit since has built 121 airstrips in Algeria, Tunisia and Italy.
The battalion, previously commended for its contribution in the aerial campaigns that helped force the surrender of Italy, and later, Germany, recently was awarded the Army's Meritorious Service Unit Plaque. And while all its members wear 3 Battle Participation Stars, many also have been honored with such awards as the Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, and Purple Heart.
Life overseas for members of the unit has been a continual fight at alternate times against heat and subtropical diseases, and rain, cold and mud. Despite these conditions, the unit carried on its mission of airfield construction. In addition, the busy work program included the building of drainage systems, setting up of parachute and control towers, erection of wood and tin huts and stone structures for mess halls, shower installations, etc., graveling and oiling roads, operation of rock quarries, and like engineering functions.
Highlighting the battalions overseas service was the building, in 30 day's time, of 20 airstrips used by troop carriers and gliders in the Sicilian invasion, and the construction of a field on the island of Vis, off the Yugoslavian coast, that saved the lives of more than 6,000 allied airmen the year preceding the wars end in Europe. This latter base, serving as an emergency site for planes forced down after bomb runs because of fuel shortage and damage motors, was hurriedly constructed only 10 miles from a German occupied island.
Among the units more memorable experiences were bombings at Naples and Casablanca, a 1,000-mile truck convoy over the Atlas Mountains in Algeria, and the long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
Source: Rock Valley Bee June 22, 1945, p 1

Cpl. Dick Kruizenga Discharged From Army
Cpl. Dick Kruizenga, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kruizenga arrived home on Tuesday afternoon from overseas, having served overseas for two years and eight months. He was with the engineering division.
Dick has been honorably discharged from the service under the point system and has 94 points. He is at present staying at his home at Rock Valley getting acquainted with his little daughter Sharon whom he has never seen. She is a year and eight months old.
He has no definite plans for the immediate future and is enjoying a well-earned rest.
Source: Sioux Center News June 28, 1945, p 1

Draft Board
Minutes of July 2, 1945
...
Dick J. Kruizenga 1-C Ind. - 1-C Disc.
Source: Sioux County Capital, July 5, 1945 p 1