Sioux County

 

Cpl. Stanley Campagne

 

 

The First Reformed Church held a short farewell service on Sunday afternoon for four of its members - Stanley Campagne, James Mulder, Gerald Bosch and John Kempers who are leaving for army services on Thursday of this week.

Source: Sioux Center News March 18, 1943 p 4

Draft Board Minutes
MINUTES OF THE SIOUX COUNTY LOCAL BOARD MEETING OF March 17, 1943
...
CLASS 1-C (Induction)
...
Stanley E. Campagne, Sioux Center
...

Source: Sioux Center News March 25, 1943 p 2

Stanley Campagne writes that they arrived at Fort Leavenworth at 10:45.  They took some examinations yet that night and didn't get to bed until 12:30.  They had to get up again at 4:30 the next morning.  Then Stanley and Cornelius Van Oosbree and a few boys from Alton were interviewed for truck driving after which he was vaccinated and had a very sore arm.  The he took a nine mile hike and when he came back he worked in the postal exchange, carrying beverage trays, etc. from 4 to 8 o'clock.  Then he was all in, and went to bed at nine and got up again at 4:15.  He received his uniform and shipping number and he expected to be sent out Monday, March 22.  He writes to say hello to all at home and would appreciate letters.  His address will be published as soon as it gets here.

Source: Sioux Center News March 25, 1943 p 10

Change of address-
Pvt. Stanley E. Campagne
Co. 1, 80th Armr'd Regt.
US Army APO 258
North Camp Polk, La.

Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 1, 1943 p 10

Local Boys Meet In Camp Polk, La.
Bernie Koops and Stanley Campagne met each other recently at old Camp Polk, La. bus station.  Both boys were very happy to see each other and had a wonderful day visiting with each other until 3:45 in the afternoon when Bernie had to be at his work again. Bernie, before coming to Camp Polk, La. was stationed at Camp Maxey, Texas.  Stanley, who has been in the army since March 18, is stationed at North Camp Polk, La.  He has one more week of basic training left.  Last week two of Stan's buddies met with awful accidents.  One got killed driving a tank and while going under through a big tree his head got between a limb of the tree and the tank, and his other buddy was marching along with all the other boys in his company in and around the swamps and he got bit by a rattlesnake and died.  He said this makes a fellow feel pretty blue and makes one feel bad.  Stanley is also instructor in tumbling.  He has two classes a week.  He wants to thank the Sioux Center News.  He says, "It makes me feel right at home to read it".

Source: Sioux Center News May 20, 1943 p 1

June 28, 1943
Dear Ed and Marie:
I would have written you long ago but just didn't find time.  I've been gone for some time but said to myself I have to write Ed and Marie.  They are so faithful in sending me the paper. 
Ed, when I was home I read the paper here and there, but now I start on the front page and read until the back page.  So I'll be sure and not to miss any news. 
I'm in a Bud State.  That old Louisiana.  It rains here a lot and is very hot.  The last weeks it was around a hundred or over every day.  But I'm getting used to it.
I've been answering all the letters I can but the last three days has been terrible.  I have a birthday coming tomorrow, June 29.  I'll be 21 years old and my oh my what cards and letters.  The mailman here said he never seen a soldier receive so much mail as I have been getting.  Saturday I had 9 letters and cards, Sunday 16 letters and cards and today more yet, 27 letters and cards.  So that's a total of 52 letters in 3 days.  Isn't that a lot?  So Ed I wish you would have a letter in your paper telling my friends that it's impossible for me to answer them all now.  But I'll try and answer them in the near future.  Even the cop of good old Sioux Center remembered my birthday.  Good old Joe Te Veltrup (Thanks, Joe).  So Ed I want to thank you again for the Dear Old Sioux Center News.  From a soldier in the U. S. Army in Louisiana, Pvt. Stanley Campagne

Source: Sioux Center News July 8, 1943 p 2

Stanley Campagne, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Zeutenhorst, has a slight change of address. It is:
Cpl. T5 Stanley Campagne
Co. I, 80th Arm'd Regt.
APO 258
North Camp Polk, La.

Stanley is coming home on a furlough any time now. He is driving a Jeep. He drives the captain and Lts. around and likes his work fine, but is very eager to come home.

Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 2, 1943 p 10

Stanley Campagne surprised his family, Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Zeutenhorst, by coming home on Saturday afternoon to spend a 15-day furlough with them.  He is stationed at North Camp Polk, La. and has recently been promoted to Tech. 5 Corp.  When on duty he drove an officers car.  He entered the service 6 months ago.

Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 16, 1943 p 2

Nelvina Den Hartog and Marjorie Addink drove to Sioux City on Saturday to get Cpl. Stanley Campagne who arrived there on his furlough.

Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 16, 1943 p 4

Miss Nelvina Den Hartog and Cpl. Stanley Campagne were united in marriage at the First Reformed Church parsonage at five o'clock Saturday afternoon, Sept. 18.
...
The bride will continue her teaching career and the groom will return to North Camp Polk, La., on Thursday.

Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 23, 1943 p 1

Cpl. Stanley Campagne 37475925
Co. C. 710th Tank Btn.,
APO 258
N. Camp Polk, La.

Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 30, 1943 p 10

Address change-
Cpl. T-5 Stanley Campagne 37475925
Serv. Co. 710th Tank Btn.
APO 258
North Camp Polk, La.

Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 28, 1943 p 2

Mrs. Stanley Campagne left from LeMars early Sunday morning for San Diego, Calif. where she will join her husband who is stationed at the military base there.  She has given up her position as teacher in the rural school near Middleburg and plans to look for work at San Diego. 

Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 10, 1944 p 2

Cpl. Stanley Campagne has been transferred from Camp Polk, La. to Camp San Luis Obispo, Calif., and this new address:
Cpl. Stanley Campagne 37475925
Serv. Co. 710 Tank Bn.
Camp San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Source: Sioux Center News March 2, 1944 p 2

Stanley Campagne writes from Camp Cooke, Calif.

He has just returned from the desert and was taking time to write home.  He is at Camp Cooke at present but does not expect to be there very long.  He writes that they really had a tough week in the desert and this new camp is terrible.  It's all fine white sand and awfully windy every day.  Please say hello to all my dear ones and friends and I'm really anxious to hear from the good old home town of mine, as I haven't had any mail for a long time.  Please let me hear from you soon.  Your son, Cpl. T/5 Stanley Campagne.
Cpl. T/5 Stanley Campagne
Service Co. 710 Tank Bn.
ASN 37475925
Camp Cooke, Calif.  P. O. 2

Source: Sioux Center News May 11, 1944 p 2

Here are a few lines from Stan Campagne, son of Mrs. Gt. Zeutenhorst of Maurice-

July 7, 1944
Well, mother, I can write a little more now. Did you notice on top Hawaii?  Well, things are really swell around here.  I have seen Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, and many other places.  I also have eaten coconuts, pineapples and bananas.  I'm sitting on the front of my truck with my shirt off.  Boy is the sun hot and I'm really brown.  I've had my shirt off every day since I've been here.  I received the Sioux Center News yesterday and was I tickled to get it.  It just brings a fellow back home again in memory.  Hats off to the good old Sioux Center News and my dear good friends and pals over there.  Thanks a lot.  I'm in the best of health and hope you are all too.  Well yesterday I didn't work but Eddie Jansen came over to see me and we talked and walked around, and Eddie said Lubbert Niessink was close by.  So we went over to see him.  So the three of us boys had a swell visit together. I hadn't seen Lubbert for 2 years.  We sure were tickled to meet each other.  Well, not much news. It's really hot here lately and lots of rain.  But I'm getting used to it by now.  Well how's dad?  Hope he is busy as a bee.  Hope all the rest of the family are well.  So I'll just have to say goodnight and I'll write more tomorrow.  Your son, Stan.

Cpl. Stanley Campagne 37475925
Serv. Co. 710 Tank Bn.
APO 957, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, Calif.

Source: Sioux Center News July 20, 1944 p 2

Cpl. Stanley Campagne has the following change of address:
Service Co., 710th Tank Bn.
APO 952, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, Calif.

Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 3, 1944 p 8

Mrs. Stanley Campagne and Mrs. Arthur Respeff and son Terry Lee arrived home from Bellflower, Calif. and they plan to make their home with their mother, Mrs. D. Den Hartog for the duration.  The ladies have both been working at the Douglas aircraft plant at Bellflower for some time, as their husbands are in the service.  Stanley left the States several months ago and Mr. Respeff is in the marines and has been in the service for the past two years.

Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 24, 1944 p 6

Mrs. Gt. Zeutenhorst of Maurice sends a copy of Stanley's recent letter:
Sioux Center News:
Just to let you hear a little about Stanley.  Well we had received no letters from him for five weeks and finally last week Wed., Sept. 6 we received a letter from him and I'll write it just as he wrote it to us.

Somewhere in the Pacific
Dearest Mom, Dad, Herb and Marlo:
Well mother I haven't had mail for a long time.  but today I really am a happy boy.  I had 50 letters. They really are swell, and thanks a million.  Then I also had a card of Rev. Brunsting and it took me an hour to figure it all out.  He really is swell.  Then I had quite a few get well cards. Thanks a million.  Dad you mentioned last week you had been so busy, had 21 jobs in two days.  You really are going to town and keep up the good work.  I also forgot to thank you for the pictures of my little brother Marlo.  They really are cute.  I look at them every day.  So many boys said you really are mighty cute and to think you're my brother.  I'm really proud of you Marlo.  Last night a few natives came along our boat in a canoe.  They were selling coconuts and little odds and ends.  Mother, the meals on this boat are really wonderful couldn't wish for any better.  I have no idea where I'm going or when I will arrive.  So don't worry.  Mother, if I would walk in now without my shirt on you really would think I was a negro.  I could just as well say I'm black.  But anything to be home.  I miss my home and dear folks and wife.  But some day and it may be soon that we all may be back home again.  Last night I read all my letters over again and didn't get in bed until 2:30 o'clock.  But I really enjoyed them.  Yesterday afternoon I laid on deck of the ship for four hours, just my shorts on - it's so terrible hot here.  I'll really be glad to get my two feet on land once again for a few minutes or longer.  This noon they told us that at 12:30 we can buy 3 stamps for three bottles of beer.  But no beer for me.  Well I haven't much more news for now but I'll write whenever I get a chance.  So think of me and pray also for me and all the rest of us, and I'll do the same.  So be good Mom and Dad.  This is again a letter from your dear son, somewhere in the Pacific.
Goodbye now to all.  Love, Stanley.

Cpl. Stanley Campagne 37475925
Service Co. 710 Tank Bn.
APO 952, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, Calif.

Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 14, 1944 p 10

Stanley Campagne writes from S.W. Pacific. These are excerpts from two letters to his parents.

Palau Group, Anguar Island
Dear Mom, Dad, Herb and big brother Marlo.  Well, it's about time for me to write you folks a letter.  I'm in the very best of health.  I really had a boat ride.  I was on the boat for about a month and a half.  Really a long time.  When we landed on the beach it was pretty safe.  But lots of noise all around us.  The first three nights I drove late and sat in fox holes the rest of the night - no sleep.  Yesterday I had my first mail again. 3 letters from my dear folks and 3 from my dear wife.  It really seemed good to get mail from home once again.  Mom and dad I also crossed the date line and equator.  They really gave us a beating.  They cut our hair off.  Beat us with a stick and I mean real hard!  Also put eggs in your mouth, castor oil in your mouth, put paint in your hair.  Boy, what a time.  But everybody got it so that was that.  Well I haven't much news but just a short letter to let you know I'm very well and O. K.  I've seen more dead Japs than I hope to ever see again. 

Sunday at Island of Anguar
Well folks, another day has passed again.  I'm feeling fine.  I didn't do much today.  Well mom and dad it really feels good to be back with my old company again.  When I was on the boat I was with C Company of our outfit.  But I'm with good old Service Co. again.  Mother, I'm receiving mail every day now.  I've had mail late last night and also this afternoon.  A letter from my dear folks and 11 of my dear wife Nelvina.  Boy, I really was glad to hear from good old home.  Nelvina wrote just how she walked in on you folks when she returned from California.  That really must have been a surprise.  But I'm glad she is back in Sioux Center.  I hope you get mail from me by now.  But I was on the boat so long and couldn't write.  But now I'm writing whenever I can.  Well things aren't bad anymore for the present time.  I'm sleeping under a Jap canvas which we put up between two tanks that are wrecked.  We are making our own meals.  We also make coffee three to five times a day.  Well things are pretty well under control now.  Just a few snipers in trees and bushes here and there.  Well folks all I can say is be good and don't worry.  I'm still O. K.  Say hello to poor sick Marlo.  Bye Marlo.  From your loving son on the Palau Group on the island of Anguar.  Mom say hello to good old dad for me, also Herb.  Love, Stanley.

Cpl. Stanley Campagne 37475925
Service Co. 740 Tank Bn.
APO 952, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, Calif.

Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 12, 1944 p 8

Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Zeutenhorst of Maurice send the following information about Stanley Campagne:
Well we finally received mail again from Stanley after not having any letters for about six or seven weeks.  But yesterday morning we were very happy to receive three very nice letters from him.  He had been on the boat again for three weeks.  He was in the best of health, but was very busy hauling lumber a long distance away.  He goes one day and comes back again the next day to the Co. area.  Has two meals a day one at seven o'clock in the morning and the other at 4:15 in the afternoon, but the meals are good.  But he writes it's a long wait in between meals.  Then at five o'clock they have gun inspection, and then mail call.  First of all he wanted to wish us all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year and that goes out to all his dear friends and relatives all over near and far.  He had received over 70 letters and Christmas cards in the last two days.  He writes, "Boy, was I ever a happy man.  Oh man, what a mail!  Then last night I again had 19 letters and Christmas cards.  Even had a swell five page letter from Ken Koops.  Very nice of you Ken.  I'm not forgetting you either.  And also a very nice letter from Art and Frieda Vander Ploeg.  I'll answer them very soon.  Thanks a lot, and a few more, I can't mention them all that would be impossible.  Mr. and Mrs. P. E. De Vries, Pvt. and Mrs. Edward Jansen, Gerrit Vande Brake, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Vander Ploeg, Mrs. Henry T. De Boer, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Vande Berg.  Then one from my old trucking friends, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Brink from Maurice, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Vande Berg. Then a swell one of someone I don't know, Mr. and Mrs. Teunis Massen of Maurice, firends of my folks, but sure nice of them to remember me.  P. J. Haverhals.  Then another old friend I always liked, Henry and Grace Ramaker, swell of them.  Then also a very nice letter of my old schoolmate John De Zeeuw, and then quite a few of my folks and wife.  Aunt Effie and Henry Eggink. Rev. Brunsting.  Now I think you can get an idea of my mail I'm getting.  But the more the merrier.  We are living in six man tents but since we have more tents than we need we have four men to a tent.  So us 4 pals are together in one tent - that really makes it nice.  I'm sitting in bed writing by the use of my flashlight.  Mom, you heard of mosquitoes, well they really are bad here.  Just like flies.  I have my mosquito bar around my cot. It's a thin cloth-like screen and it really keeps them out.  I never used it before.  But boy we all got ours out here.  We haven't had our pay since we left Hawaii and that's five or six months ago.  So this afternoon we had to line up and we got partial pay and received $20 and maybe we will get our back pay soon sometime.  Boy dad is really busy, isn't he?  Well, I'll be home tomorrow to help you.  Boy how I wish that were true.  But we hope this may soon end and be over.  I'm praying daily that it may end soon but there's one that knows and that's the Dear Lord our Savior. Well now I'll sign off, good night to you all.  And I want to thank each and every one who remembered me either by a card or letter or otherwise.  Thanks a million, they were all swell.  Keep it up. Your loving son, Cpl. Stanley Campagne (call either his parents or News Office for his address)

Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 11, 1945 p 10

Stan Campagne writes from the Pacific-

Dear Ed and Marie:                        Jan 14, 1945
Well I haven't written for some time. So I guess it's high time now.  I enjoy the Sioux Center News very much.  But I've only got one in six months. But my papers are someplace and will get to me sometime, I hope.
Well, I read a poem over here and I really think a lot of people should read it, so here it is:

"So you're tired of working, mister,
And you think you'll rest a bit,
You've been working pretty hard,
And you're getting tired of it.
You think the war is ending,
So you're slowing down the pace.
That's what you may be thinking,
Sir, but it just ain't the case.
What would you think, Sir,
If we quit because we're tired, too?
We're flesh and blood and human,
And we're just as tired as you.
Did you ever dig a fox hole
And climb down deep inside,
And wish it went to China
So you'd have someplace to hide,
While motored "buzzards" packed with guns
Were circling overhead,
And filled the ground around you
With hot, exploding lead.
And did you ever dig out, mister,
From debris and dirt,
And find you couldn't move, though
You weren't hurt at all,
And feel so darned relieved that
You just sit down and bawl.
Were you ever hungry, mister,
Not the kind that soon gluts,
But a gnawing, cutting hunger
That bites into your guts.
It's a homesick hunger, mister,
And it digs around inside,
And it gets you in its clutches
And there is no place to hide.
Were you ever dirty, mister,
Not the wilty collar kind,
But the oozy, slimy, messy dirt
And gritty kinds that grind.
Did you ever mind the heat, sir,
Not the kind that makes sweat run,
But the kind that drives you crazy
Till you even curse the sun.
Were you ever weary, mister,
I mean dog tired, you know,
When your feet ain't got no feeling
And your legs don't want to go.
But we keep a'going, mister,
You can bet your sweet life we do,
And let me tell you, mister,
We expect the same of you."

Well I think that poem should be read in all homes in Sioux Center.  Well I haven't much more time to write so I'll sign off. I'm still driving truck and am very busy. So be good, Ed and Marie. Always your friend, Stan Campagne.

Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 25, 1945 p 8

Cpl. and Mrs. Stanley Campagne became the parents of an 8 lb. daughter born to them at the Maris maternity home on Wednesday morning (Feb. 7).  She has been named Shareen Kay and the father is serving somewhere in the Pacific.  Mrs. Campagne received a box from her husband on Wednesday which contained some beautiful beads and a bracelet which he himself had made for her while stationed in Hawaii.

Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 15, 1945 p 4

Stanley Campagne wrote his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Zeutenhorst of Maurice that he was enjoying a four day pass at a rest camp somewhere in the South Pacific.  He said he was issued a pillow, two sheets and a blanket, the first he had seen for some seven months.  Saw ice cream and ate three portions at one sitting.  The novelty of eating good food from real dishes and having girls to wait on tables, was something he really appreciated. He received packages from the First Ref. Church at Maurice, Mission Band of the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Koops, the Business Men of Maurice, several from his folks and his wife and he wants them all to know he is most grateful for them, and for the cards and letters also.

Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 15, 1945 p 2

Cpl. Stanley Campagne has a slight change of address.  His APO number should read 331.

Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 22, 1945 p 2

Word has been received by his parents that Stanley Campagne is now stationed in the Philippines. In a recent letter to his parents he wrote that he was kept busy day and night.

Source: Sioux Center News June 7, 1945 p 8

Local Boys Meet At Leyte
While in the hospital at Leyte Island Johnnie De Zeeuw had a very nice visit with Stanley Campagne who is also stationed on that island, and the boys had a very pleasant time.

Source: Sioux Center News July 19, 1945 p 1

Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Zeutenhorst and family and Mrs. Stanley Campagne went to Sioux City Thursday evening where they met Stanley Campagne.  Stanley is home on an eleven day furlough after serving in the South Pacific, and after he has some dental work done, he will be discharged.

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

HONORABLY DISCHARGED
Filed at County Recorder Milton Van Roekel's office the past week were discharge papers of the following:
...
Stanley Campagne, Sioux Center
...

Source: The Alton Democrat Jan. 24, 1946 p 1