Sioux County

 

Pfc. Raymond Edward Hulstein

 

 

Record List Classified By Draft Board 

Wednesday, February 17th ….. On motion the following registrants were placed in Tent. 1-A subject to examination: ….. 11,970 Raymond Edward Hulstein, Hull ….. 

Source: Alton Democrat Feb. 26, 1943, p 8 28 

Men Accepted Out Of 43 Called; Will Leave From Orange City Friday 

The following named men have been accepted for military service, and will leave for induction this week Friday at 8:45 A. M. for Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. 

U. S. Army ….. Raymond Edward Hulstein, Hull ….. 

Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 29, 1943, p 1 

Here is the address of Pvt. Raymond Hulstein, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Hulstein of Sioux Center. Is one of the recent inductees into the U. S. Army. 

Pvt. Raymond Hulstein, Co. A. 62nd Bn., M.R.T.C., Camp Barkeley, Texas. 

Source: Sioux Center News May 20, 1943, p 9 

Pvt. Raymond Hulstein phoned his parents from Texas Monday evening, but were unable to hear him. 

Source: Sioux Center News May 27, 1943, p 10 

PFC Raymond Hulstein called his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Neal Hulstein by phone this past week from Camp Barkeley, Texas. All the family talked to him and this time they could hear him very well. The last time he called none could understand what he said. 

Source: Sioux Center News June 10, 1943, p 10 

Mrs. Neal Hulstein and her daughter, Mrs. Albert Brunsting of Hawarden left for Texas last Wednesday morning where they will visit Pvt. Raymond Hulstein who is with the U. S. Army. 

Mrs. Peter Vis of Hull accompanied them to visit her husband who is also stationed there. 

Source: Sioux County Capital June 24, 1943, p 6 

Pvt. Raymond Hulstein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Neal G. Hulstein of Sioux Center, has the following change of address: Co. A. 2nd Platoon, 279th Station Hospital, Camp Bowie, Texas. 

Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 12, 1943, p 2 

Pvt. Raymond Hulstein has a slight change of address: Pvt. Raymond Hulstein 37478941 Co. A. 3rd Platoon Station Hospital Camp Bowie, Texas 

Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 26, 1943, p 10 

Pvt. Raymond Hulstein sent us the following change in his address: Pvt. Raymond Hulstein 37478941 Co. A. 3rd Platoon 279th Station Hospital Camp Bowie, Texas 

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

Pvt. Raymond Hulstein of Camp Bowie, Texas asked us to print this poem in our soldier page. 

SOME DAY 

I’m way down here in the army, Just dreaming of home sweet home; And although at times I am lonesome, Still I know I am never alone. For God in His Love He has promised, That no matter where we may roam; If we go to Him with our troubles, Then we never will feel all alone. As we travel over life’s highway, And with hustle we move to and fro, It surely will be a great blessing When to heaven at last we will go. So if only we go to our Savior, And take Him our troubles each day And ask our dear Lord for forgiveness, Then we’ll all meet in glory some day. ~PFC Julius 

Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 16, 1943, p 10 

Camp Bowie, Texas Sept 10, 1943 

Dear Sir and Sioux Center friends: 

As I have a few minutes time to spare before the lights go out I am going to drop a few lines. I sure enjoy the Sioux Center newspaper. I wouldn’t do without it. Well I will tell you about my work. In the morning at 5:30 we get up and at 5:45 we fall out for roll call to see if all the soldiers are present or not. It happens once in a while a soldier goes over the hill. Then at 6:30 we have chow, and at 7 o’clock I have to be in the hospital ready to go to work. I like my work in the hospital real well. We have a very big hospital out here and a big number of sick patients. In the morning the first thing I do when I get in the hospital is mop and scrub the floors which is no fun. Then after that I get myself all ready and cleaned up. Then I give the patients a bath, change their beds for them. I have to do that about 4 times a day. We have patients coming in and going out every day. Our ward officer is very nice to me, and I sure get along fine with the patients. Today we had a patient come in who tipped over with one of the army trucks and had 3 broken ribs. We had to operate and remove the 3 broken ribs. I get through in the hospital in the afternoon at 3 o’clock. I also go out in the country with the doctor a lot to see sick patients. I have fixed a few broken bones already which is very careful work, because it is very painful for the patients that come in with broken arms. We have a lot of calls of soldiers coming in with broken arms. The only thing is I don’t like to help with them operations because the ether pretty near makes me asleep myself. 

Well I will say I am proud to be Uncle Sam’s hired man, and I like the army life real well and really like my work. Well dear friends it’s time for the lights to go out. 

So I better close with best regards from Pvt. Raymond Hulstein 37478941 Co. A. 3rd Platoon 279th Station Hospital Camp Bowie, Texas 

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

Pvt. Raymond Hulstein returned to Camp Barkeley, Texas on Friday after spending a 13-day furlough at the parental Neal Hulstein home. 

Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 21, 1943, p 2 Feb. 15, ‘44 

Dear Friends: As I have a few minutes to spare, I thought I’d sit down and write you a few lines. I am overseas, and in the best of health, and I find myself somewhere in the British Isles. I receive the Sioux Center News pretty regular now and I sure enjoy it very much. I wouldn’t know what I’d do if I would not get that paper anymore. 

How are all the Sioux Center friends and relatives making it out. The war really sounds good for our side. So I hope that they will keep it up, so that we may soon return home again. I have a little piece here that I would like to have you put in the Sioux Center News. I know it will cheer up all parents after reading this little poem. I will appreciate it very much if you will put it in the paper. 

The title is: CHRISTIAN SOLDIER 

By the window of a cottage At the Closing of the day Sits a woman praying, longing For her boy so far away. Now her hair has turned to silver And her eyesight dimmer grows. In her face are signs of sadness, Down her cheek a teardrop flows. Close beside her lays a Bible, In the window hangs a star, Pen and paper are before her; Thoughts revert to lands afar. With a hand that’s far from steady She begins with “My Dear Son”. Then she tells him how she loves him, How he’s missed by everyone. “You were called to serve your country In a war to keep us free; We will stand behind you, Willie, Till we win the Victory! “But you’re also called for duty, In a greater, noble fight. ‘Tis a war to which God calls you ‘Gainst the wrong and for the right. “Yes, it’s hard to keep from evil, Satan always will annoy; You’ve a helper ever near you: Trust in God, my Soldier Boy! When the boys around you gamble, Ask you, too, to ‘join the fun’, Just Remember, God’s approval, Does not rest on that my son. Speak to others of your Savior, Tell them what He’s done for you; When they know His goodness, they Will take Him for their Savior, too. “May God blees you, and go with you, Bring you safely back to me When this cruel war is over, And we’ve won the Victory!” Closing with “your loving mother”, She now reads the letter o’er Breathes a prayer for darling Willie Tonight on some far-off shore. Then she folds the letter gently, With an air of pride and joy Thanking God that He has given Her a Christian Soldier Boy. 

Sent in by: Pvt. Raymond E. Hulstein 37478941 279th Station Hospital APO 516, c/o Postmaster New York City, N. Y. 

Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 2, 1944, p 2 

Excerpts from a letter written by Pvt. Raymond Hulstein, 279th Station Hospital, APO 516, c/o P.M., New York, N. Y. July 23, ‘44 

Dear Sir: I just have a few minutes to write, but I have a little piece here which I would like to have all mothers and fathers to read who have sons in the service of their country. I always enjoyed the Sioux Center News very much and still do. I get the Sioux Center News very regular, and I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Ed Roelofs for sending it. I will appreciate it very much if you’d put this piece in the News, it will bring happiness to the dear ones who have their sons in the service. 

Yours Truly, Pvt. Raymond Hulstein 

TELL MY BOY 

Now that my boy has left home to render service for his country, I wish someone would take an interest in him, and tell him the most important things in life of course, the most important thing in life is to know the way of Salvation for I want my boy to be more than an American soldier. I want him to accept Christ as his Savior. So that he can say with Paul that great soldier of the cross, “Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s”. (Romans 14:8) I want my boy to know the answer to life’s greatest question, and that is: “What must I do to be saved?” The only place that the answer to this question can be found is in God’s Holy Word, the Bible. “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) For all we have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) These and many other Bible verses point to his need of a Savior. It makes no difference what kind of a life he has lived, whether he has been morally good or openly sinful. In the eyes of God all need a Savior who can save from the penalty of power and sin. First he must realize and admit that he is a sinner and needs a Savior. (Written by Pvt. Raymond Hulstein) 

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

BELATED GREETINGS ARRIVE 

Pvt. Raymond Hulstein who was stationed in England when his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.G. Hulstein, last heard from him over a month ago, sent Mother and Father’s Day greetings to his parents which they just received last week. 

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

PVT. RAYMOND HULSTEIN (photo) 

Pvt. Raymond Hulstein is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C.G. Hulstein of Sioux Center. He entered the service two years ago on April 30. He received his training at Camp Barkeley, Texas, and Camp Bowie, Texas. At present Raymond is stationed in England where he is an M. P. taking care of German Prisoners. He is also going to school but what he is studying is not known by his parents. He has been overseas for 15 months and stationed in England all the time. 

Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 5, 1945, p 1 

Pvt. Raymond Hulstein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Neal G. Hulstein, has a new APO number which is 134. The rest of his address remains the same. Raymond has been moved recently from England to France. 

Source: Sioux Center News June 14, 1945, p 2 

Pfc. Raymond E. Hulstein, son of C. G. Hulstein, is now stationed at Paris, France and his correct address is: 37478941, Co. A., 383 M. P. Bn., APO 887, c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y. 

Source: Sioux Center News May 30, 1946, p 2 

Raymond Hulstein arrived home from overseas on Friday to visit with his mother, Mrs. Neal G. Hulstein, who has been critically ill for many weeks due to a heart condition. He will have an emergency furlough. 

Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 21, 1946, p 8 

Raymond Hulstein arrived home on Thursday and has been given a thirty-day furlough to visit with his mother who is down in bed due to a heart condition. Due to the critical condition of Mrs. Hulstein, Raymond was taken by plane from Berlin, Germany to Chicago, thus making the trip in a very short time. 

While overseas Raymond was united in marriage to Miss Odette Hurbourg, the marriage taking place in the American chapel at Rheims, France on Nov. 4. 

Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 21, 1946, p 7 

Mr. and Mrs. Neal G. Hulstein were Monday evening visitors at the Peter Bosch home. Raymond, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hulstein who is in the service and is stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey, is spending a short leave at the parental home. 

Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 13, 1947, p 8 

Raymond Hulstein arrived home Wednesday evening from Fort Dix, New Jersey to spend a furlough at the parental C. G. Hulstein home while recuperating from a serious operation. 

Source: Sioux Center News June 5, 1947, p 8 

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Brunsting of Hawarden spent Monday at the parental C. G. Hulstein home. Their brother Raymond accompanied them to Hawarden that evening and left from there by train to return to Fort Dix, New Jersey. He had been spending a few months at home on furlough while recuperating from a major operation. 

Source: Sioux Center News July 17, 1947, p 18 

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

Raymond E. Hulstein was born on July 11, 1923, at Sioux Center, Iowa, where he was living prior to entering the army on Apr. 23, 1943, at Orange City, Iowa. He served with the 279th Station Hospital during his first tour of duty and was honorably discharged on Nov. 15, 1945. He then served with Det. #7, 1262nd ASV at Ft. Dix, New Jersey during his second enlistment, and was still in the service when his application for bonus pay was filed on Sept. 8, 1948, for which he received $300.00. 

Source: Ancestry.com 

Researcher’s note: Some of the information in the above document was confusing when compared to the previous newspaper articles, so I followed up by researching the discharge papers filed in the Recorders Office in Orange City, Iowa, where I found three discharge records. 

The first discharge record states Raymond was inducted on April 23, 1943, entered the service on April 30, 1943, and was discharged on Nov. 15, 1945, while still overseas, “at convenience of the government” under AR615-365* “to enlist in the Regular Army”. 

The second discharge record states Raymond re-enlisted at Berlin, Germany the same day, Nov. 15, 1945, served as an MP (military policeman), and was discharged on Jan 21, 1948, by reason of AR615-365* and WD Cir. Dated August 8, 1947**. It also states, “Re-enlisting for EUCOM” (European Command). 

The third discharge paper states Raymond re-enlisted the following day, Jan. 22, 1948, served as a food service apprentice, and was discharged on Dec. 23, 1949. *AR615-365 - demobilization/reduction of armed forces **WD Cir dated August 8, 1947 implemented the National Security Act of 1947, abolishing the War Department and establishing the Department of the Army.