Thirty-Six Men Called To Army June 15
The Sioux County Draft Board this week called 36 men from Sioux county to report for induction into the army and to report at Orange City at 5 a. m. June 15 for the bus trip to Des Moines where the examinations will take place. The men will go by chartered bus to Des Moines.
Those on the list this week are: … S-1462 Lewis B. Kooi, Rock Valley …
Source: Sioux County Capital June 1, 1942, p 1
Twelve Men Rejected
Out Of Thirty-six Called In the last group called 12 men out of 36 were rejected for physical reasons. … Those men who returned home on furlough and will report back on June 26th are: …, Lewis B. Kooi, Rock Valley, …
Source: Sioux Center News June 18, 1942, p 12
Pvt. Lewis Kooi in Arkansas
Pvt. Kooi, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Kooi who live southwest of Sioux Center, is now located at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas. His address is: Pvt. Lewis B. Kooi, Co. A 67th Bn. 14th Tng. Regt. BIRTC, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas, U. S. Army. Mrs. Lewis Kooi is making her home with her sister, Mrs. Dick Dorhout west of Sioux Center.
Source: Sioux Center News July 9, 1942, p 2
Mrs. Ben Kooi and Mrs. Lewis Kooi left Friday morning by train to visit with Pvt. Lewis Kooi who is stationed at Camp Robinson, Ark.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 13, 1942, p 8
In Arkansas (photo) PVT. LOUIS (as spelled in newspaper article) B. KOOI Pvt. Louis B. Kooi is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Kooi living west of Sioux Center, and is stationed in Arkansas with the U. S. Army. Mrs. Lewis Kooi, his wife, lives with her sister Mrs. Dick Dorhout west of Sioux Center while Pvt. Kooi is in the U. S. Army. Mrs. Louis Kooi and Mrs. Ben Kooi returned last week from almost a two week visit with Pvt. Kooi at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. His address is: Pvt. Louis B. Kooi, Co. A. 67th Bn., 14th Tng. Regt. BIRTC, Camp J. T. Robinson, Arkansas. Pvt. and Mrs. Louis Kooi worked with Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Heuer on a farm near Hawarden before his entry into the armed forces.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 27, 1942, p 1
Henry Blankespoor in Arkansas
Henry Blankespoor who recently left for army service is now located at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas. … There are four Sioux County boys in this camp with Blankespoor. The two who have been there for some time are Pvt. Lewis Kooi and Pvt. Gerrit Visser. Two of the last group to arrive there are Jerry Vander Zwaag and Randall Van Gelder.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 17, 1942, p 8
Mrs. Lewis B. Kooi and six week old son stopped in the News Office Tuesday to bring some information about her husband and Pvt. Gerrit Huenink.
Lewis is a son of Ben Kooi who recently moved from Hawarden to Rock Valley. He has been stationed at Camp Robinson, Ark. for six months and was recently assigned to a company as cadre to train all new recruits there. He has never seen his son, and is eagerly looking forward to his first furlough when he can make his acquaintance. His address: Pvt. Lewis B. Kooi Co. A. 67th Bn. 14th Tng. Regt. BIRTC Camp Robinson, Arkansas.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 7, 1943, p 8
Lewis B. Kooi has been promoted to the rank of Corporal at Camp Robinson, Ark. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Kooi of Rock Valley. Lewis has been at this location since last July, is a member of the BIRTC’s permanent cadre. Camp Robinson is one of two Branch Immaterial Replacement Training Centers in the Unite States which prepares men for duty with any one of the many branches of the service. His address: Cpl. Lewis B. Kooi Co. A. 67th Bn. 14th Tng. Regt. BIRTC Camp Robinson, Ark.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 4, 1943, p 11
Mrs. Lewis Kooi and three month old baby left Tuesday to visit her husband, Corporal Lewis Kooi who is stationed at Camp Robinson, Ark. Lewis has never seen the baby.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 25, 1943, p 10
Corporal and Mrs. Lewis B. Kooi telephoned from Camp Robinson, Ark. Sunday evening to congratulate his mother on her birthday. Mrs. Kooi and baby went to Camp Robinson to stay with Lewis a few weeks ago.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 1, 1943, p 10
Ben Kooi of Carmel, formerly of this vicinity, is now employed at the Veterans Hospital in Des Moines. He came home last Friday for a brief visit with his family.
Source: Hawarden Independent May 13, 1943, p 5
Mrs. Ben Kooi and daughter Joyce left Monday by train for Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Ark. to visit with Cpl. Lewis Kooi.
Source: Sioux Center News May 13, 1943, p 8 (photo)
CPL. LEWIS B. KOOI
Cpl. Kooi, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Kooi of Lebanon, has been transferred recently from Camp Robinson, Ark. to Camp Fannin, Texas. Mrs. Kooi and baby who have been with him the past three months, have returned to Iowa.
On page two of the soldier column is a letter from Lewis, telling details of his work, etc. (transcriber’s note: I could not find the letter mentioned)
Source: Sioux Center News June 3, 1943, p 1
Cpl. Lewis Kooi arrived home on his first furlough in nearly a year last Thursday. He has just been transferred from Camp Robinson, Ark. to Camp Fannin, Texas, where he is cadre, helps train new recruits in camp routine. Mrs. Kooi and little son returned two weeks ago after spending three months there with him before he was moved. Lewis will return this week, as he must be back in camp by midnight of this coming Saturday.
Source: Sioux Center News June 10, 1943, p 2
A large group of relatives gathered at the home of Mrs. Ben Kooi in Carmel to bid farewell to Cpl. Lewis Kooi who left Thursday for Camp Fannin, Texas after spending a ten-day furlough here.
Source: Sioux Center News June 17, 1943, p 8
SIOUX COUNTY SERVICEMEN HAVE GOOD MILITARY RECORDS 29 COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OUT OF 325
The News recently made a survey of the Soldier Mailing list and discovered there were a good many officers in the U.S. Fighting Forces representing Sioux Center all over the world. While some of these men are not from Sioux Center proper, they all have some connections here and most of them are known in this territory. This is only a small percentage of Sioux County men, but is a fair cross section of the County. There may be others who are from this territory whose names do not appear on this list, but we are using our mailing list to go by, so those who do not get the News would naturally not appear on this list.
However it is interesting to note, the percentage of officers (commissioned or non-commissioned) in a list of over 325 servicemen. 36 Corporals: … Lewis Kooi …
Source: Sioux Center News July 8, 1943, p 5
Mrs. Lewis Kooi and eight-month-old son left Wednesday for Tyler, Tex. where they will make their home. They will live in a house with three other soldier’s wives, which is about 10 miles from camp. Cpl. Lewis Kooi is stationed at Camp Fannin, Texas.
Source: Sioux Center News July 22, 1943, p 2
Cpl. and Mrs. Lewis Kooi and baby arrived home Thursday evening from Camp Fannin, Texas to spend a ten-day furlough with friends and relatives here. Lewis has been in service for 16 months and this is his second furlough. His first one was last June.
Mrs. Kooi and baby have been with him most of the time and will return with him to Texas after his furlough. Lewis wishes to thank all his friends for their welcome letters, and also stated that he deeply appreciated the SIOUX CENTER NEWS.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 28, 1943, p 2
Cpl. and Mrs. Lewis Kooi and son from Camp Fannin, Texas, are home on furlough visiting friends and relatives in this vicinity. Lewis was a guest speaker at the Young Peoples Society of the Lebanon church Sunday eve. …
The Kooi relatives held a party at the Peter Haverhals home Monday evening in honor of Corporal and Mrs. Lewis Kooi and Private Raymond Kooi who are home on furlough.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 28, 1943, p 7
A farewell party was given at Mrs. Ben Kooi for Cpl. Lewis B. Kooi and his wife and son on Wednesday evening, October 27th when the following families were present: Neil Vanden Bosch and his wife and two daughters from Estelline, S.D., Lane Vanden Bosch and family, Mace Klomp and family, Mr. and Mrs. De Jong and family, Grandma Vander Bosch all of Rock Valley, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. Allan Gibson and family of Ireton.
A social time was spent after the refreshments. Many hymns were sung. Cpl. Lewis Kooi and family left Friday for his camp in Texas. He was home for a 10-day furlough.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 4, 1943, p 7
Camp Fannin, Texas Dec. 19, 1943
Dear Editor and Friends: Well it has been quite some time since I wrote to you all. I thought it time to drop you all a few lines again. I want to tell you that I have been receiving the News very regularly and enjoy it from the front page and even all the way back to the last page, and the Soldiers News is the most interesting and besides all the other items that appear in the paper. I also want to thank the many friends and relatives that have written my wife and I since we came down here in Texas. Also want to thank the business girls for all the work they’ve done in sending Christas boxes to the men in service both home and abroad. I received mine this week and it really was worth while and also the American Legion and the Civic Club for writing the boys all a letter every month telling of all the things that are happening around the good old town of Sioux Center. I’m still in the same company yet as when I had my basic training and my job is to help train new soldiers we get in every so often. They have seventeen weeks of training now before they go to their new stations. I also was promoted from Cpl. to Sgt. this past week and have been in the army just a little over eighteen months.
Another Sgt. and myself have a house in Tyler and our wives stay together and whenever we have off evening and Sunday and it sure is nice to have your family with you as long as you can. Well I guess I’ll close now before I take up all your room and hope all the boys will be back by next Christmas and that this war may soon come to an end. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May the Lord be with us all till we meet again. As ever, Your Soldier Friend, Sgt. and Mrs. Lewis B. Kooi and son
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 30, 1943, p 2
Sgt. Lewis B. Kooi of Camp Fannin, Texas also writes a nice letter, the day after Christmas, as follows: Well, it’s about time I write you a few lines as it has been quite some time ago that I received that gift from you all, and I want to thank you one and all for your thoughtfulness. I’m sure the servicemen appreciated it very much as I sure did and I want to thank everyone who had part in it. I suppose in Iowa you are all seeing a good start of the winter. Already some snow the way I hear and also some cold weather. We haven’t had any snow as yet and the way I hear there won’t be much of it here either, although we have been having enough rain the past week. A couple of days it was below freezing and we had some icy roads for a couple of days. But today it warmed up some and is pretty nice weather.
The camp I’m in is an infantry replacement training center and I am one of the many instructors they have here. I have been at Fannin since the last part of May I formerly was at Camp Robinson. Well, have no more news so will close for this time, wishing you all a Happy New Year and may this time next year find all the men home and this war over. Sgt. Lewis B. Kooi.
Source: Rock Valley Bee Jan. 14, 1944, p 3
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Kooi and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Harley Brown and son and Mr. and Mrs. Allan Gibson of the Ireton vicinity went to Carmel Tuesday evening to attend a farewell party for Mr. and Mrs. Ben Kooi and daughters, who are soon to move to Pella, Iowa. Sgt. and Mrs. Lewis Kooi and son of Texas were also there.
Source: Hawarden Independent Mar. 2, 1944, p 7
Sergeant Lewis B. Kooi returned to camp after spending his furlough with relatives and friends.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 2, 1944, p 7
Sgt. Lewis Kooi left for camp again Friday. His wife and son will remain here. She has rented the Mrs. Judith Burgers property here in Lebanon where she plans to make her home.
Source: Sioux Center News June 8, 1944, p 8
Sgt. and Mrs. Lewis B. Kooi are the proud parents of a baby boy born to them at the Hudson hospital Wednesday. Sgt. Kooi is still stationed at Camp Fannin, Texas.
Source: Sioux Center News July 27, 1944, p 8
Sgt. Lewis B. Kooi has been transferred to Ft. Geo. G. Meade, Maryland and this is his address: Sgt. Lewis B. Kooi A.G.F. Rpl. Depot No. 1 Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland Lewis has also been promoted to Sgt. recently from the rank of Cpl.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 24, 1944, p 2
Sgt. Lewis B. Kooi now has an overseas address which we are unable to publish. Call either his wife or the News for it.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 31, 1944, p 10
Donald Lee, son of Sgt. and Mrs. Lewis Kooi was baptized at the Lebanon Christian Reformed Church Sunday morning.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 14, 1944, p 8
Mrs. Lewis B. Kooi, of Rock Valley, has received word from her husband this past week and says that he has landed in France. He writes he had a good trip and is well. Sgt. Lewis Kooi’s address is on file at the News Office.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 5, 1944, p 2
Wounded In Action (photo) SGT. LEWIS B. KOOI
Sgt. Lewis B. Kooi has been wounded in action according to word received by Mrs. Lewis Kooi on Sunday, Oct. 15, in France. Lewis entered the service 27 months ago and has been in France since the 13th of September. Lewis is married and has two children who make their home at Rock Valley. His new address is: Sgt Lewis B. Kooi Hospitalized Central Postal Director APO 640. c/o Postmaster New York City, New York
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 19, 1944, p 1
Sgt. Lewis Kooi Wounded, Is In Hospital, England
Sgt. Lewis Kooi was seriously wounded in action in France on October 1, according to a message received by his wife here last week. The extent of his injury is not known, although a letter was received from him by his wife in which he said he was able to write, though it was still hard for him. He is in a hospital in England.
Sgt. Kooi had been in France only three weeks before he was wounded. Sgt. and Mrs. Kooi are the parents of two children, one 2 and the other 3 months. His wife and the children have made their home in Rock Valley since their home in Lebanon was destroyed by the tornado which swept the vicinity last spring.
Source: Rock Valley Bee Oct. 27, 1944, p 1
Sgt. Lewis B. Kooi has another new address since the last News was published. He was wounded in France recently, having been struck by shrapnel in the back of his neck paralyzing several nerves temporarily. His newest address is Sgt. Lewis Kooi, Det. of Pat. Hospital, 4179 Plant, APO 115, c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 2, 1944, p 10
CASUALTIES On All War Fronts …
WASHINGTON, DEC. 20 – (UP) – The war department announced today the names of 47 Iowa soldiers wounded in action in the European and Mediterranean areas. In all cases, next of kin have been directly informed by the war department and kept informed of any change in status. They are: European area: …; Sgt. Lewis B. Kooi, Ireton; …
Source: Fairfield Daily Ledger Dec. 20, 1944, p 4
Rock Valley, Ia. Dec. 30, 1944
Dear Sioux Center News: Enclosed you will find 60 cents and please send my husband the News first class now again. He gets it in three weeks that way. He received the Purple Heart Dec. 3. He is getting along pretty good all the time. He writes he has been helping some of the other patients in the hospital. He is still in the same hospital in England. I will let you know again if I want the paper sent that way more. Yours truly, Mrs. Lewis B. Kooi
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 4, 1945, p 8
Mr. and Mrs. Dick Dorhout and family visited with Mrs. Lewis Kooi Sunday evening. Mrs. Kooi received word that her husband has returned to this country and is in a hospital in Massachusetts. He hopes to be able to come home on a 30-day furlough according to a telephone conversation he had with his wife Sunday evening.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 8, 1945, p 7
SERVICEMEN IRETON.
Mrs. Lewis Kooi, formerly Tillie Vanden Bosch, of Rock Valley, received a call from her husband, Sgt. Lewis Kooi, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Kooi, former residents of this community now living at Pella, that he had arrived in the States. He was expected home some time this week. Sgt. Kooi was seriously wounded in France. He is a nephew of Harley Brown.
Source: The Sioux County Capital, Orange City, Iowa, February 8, 1945
Back in States (photo) SGT. LEWIS KOOI
Mrs. Lewis Kooi of Rock Valley received a telegram Saturday night from her husband Sgt. Lewis Kooi, stating he was back in the states again. He wired from Camp Edwards. Mass. He said he was feeling fine and in the best of health. His wife said he made no mention of his wounds, but he has been in a hospital in England since the 1st of October, 1944.
He said he expected to be transferred to a hospital closer to his home and also to be given a convalescent furlough in the near future.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 15, 1945, p 1
CARD OF THANKS I wish to express my sincere thanks to everyone who sent me cards, letters, and gifts while I was overseas and during my stay in the hospital. Sgt. and Mrs. Lewis Kooi
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 22, 1945, p 5
Lebanon News … Sgt. and Mrs. Lewis Kooi and son attended church services here Sunday morning.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 22, 1945, p 5
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Kooi and daughters from Pella are visiting relatives in this vicinity. Their son, Sgt Lewis Kooi, recently returned from overseas and is visiting his wife and two sons at Rock Valley while recovering from wounds he received in action in France.
Source: Sioux County Capital Mar. 8, 1945, p 6
Sgt. Lewis B. Kooi left again Friday for a convalescent hospital in Camp Carson, Colorado.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 22, 1945, p 8
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Kooi and children attended church services here Sunday afternoon and were supper guests in the Earl Kooi home. Mr. Kooi has just received a medical discharge from the army after having been wounded in Europe.
Source: Sioux Center News June 21, 1945, p 5
Draft Board Minutes of June 19, 1945 … Lewis B. Kooi - 1-C Ind. To 1-C Disc.
Source: Sioux County Capital June 21, 1945, p 1
