December Draft Call Sets Record
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Call for Dec. 10
The following named registrants are ordered to report for army examination on Dec. 10th. If they are found qualified for army service they will return for a weeks furlough before being called for active duty.
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11,311 Peter De Stigter, Sioux Center
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Source: Sioux County Capital Dec. 3, 1942 p 1 & 8
Classification Of 200 Sioux County Men
BOARD PUBLISHES DETAILED MINUTES
Minutes of the Sioux County Local Board meeting on December 16, 1942 relating the classification of the following men:
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CLASS 1-S
Peter De Stigter, Sioux Center
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Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 24, 1942 p 1 & 6
Pvt. Peter De Stigter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lane De Stigter is now in Camp Roberts, Calif. and here is his address so his friends can write to him:
S.N. 37467033
Bat. A, 55th F. A. Bn.
Camp Roberts, Calif. U.S. Army
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 7, 1943 p 6
1-11-43
Dear Ed:
This is a letter to let you know how much we soldier boys like your paper, and the different writers who contribute to it. It is something that peps you up after a Sarg. gives you a good running over for something you didn’t do, or something that gives you new hope. I like the branch of the service I’m in and the food and treatment is as good as can be expected. I’m very fortunate to have a lot of good friends from Sioux County with me. You find new friends every day, and after all that is one of the best things in life to have, a lot of friends.
My correct address is:
Pvt. Peter De Stigter
S.N. 37467033
Bat. A. 55th F. A. Bn.
Camp Roberts, Calif.
P.S. – Peter Dykstra who is in the same camp let me see the news. The Christmas we spent was not the best, but is as good as can be expected because we travelled just about the whole day, and we should have arrived early to get a Christmas dinner, which we did not get.
Your friend, Pete
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 21, 1943 p 9
Here is a list of Sioux County boys located in Camp Roberts, Calif. Gerrit Heunink, Martin Postma, Raymond Kempema, Sam Klein, Peter Dykstra, Elmer Kooistra, Thomas De Jong, Reynold Bruinsma, Peter De Stigter.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 25, 1943 p 10
Sioux County Boys At Camp Roberts, Calif
(photo)
Back row, left to right: Pete De Stigter, Albert Broek, Pete Dykstra of Hull, Sam Klein; front row: Martin Postma, Ray Kempema of Rock Valley, Reynold Bruinsma. The arm is of Gerrit Heunink of Hawarden. The above picture was sent by Al Broek, having been taken the evening before they left Camp Roberts. Several of them have already gone overseas.
Source: Sioux Center News May 6, 1943 p 1
Pvt. Peter De Stigter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lane De Stigter, has been in Africa for two months now. His address is: Btry. B. 105th C. A. Bn (M)
APO 302, c.o. Postmaster
New York City, N. Y.
S.N. 37467033
Source: Sioux Center News July 15, 1943 p 2
(Transcriber’s note: also on this page, in a letter Pvt. Gerrit Heunink asked for the addresses of several of his buddies, including Peter, that had been stationed with him at Camp Roberts.)
May Be In Sicily – Slept On An Anthill…For A Minute
Mr. and Mrs. Lane De Stigter believe their son, Pvt. Peter De Stigter may be in Sicily from the sound of his letters. He said the food was different and not as good as it had been while he was in Africa. Among his experiences there was a little incident which no doubt makes the boys long for the comforts of home once more.
Peter was sleeping out in the open and said he make up his bed on the ground in the dark and discovered in short order that he had made it on an anthill. His departure from that particular spot was somewhat hasty no doubt.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 12, 1943 p 2
Aug. 6, 1943
Dear Ed:
It’s a long time since I have written so I’ll drop a few lines. I haven’t been receiving the News at all since I left the States. Most of that is due to the fact that my address has changed so often since I left. I am now somewhere in Sicily. This country is in a very pitiful shape and the people are fed and clothed so poorly. From the looks of things though it has been like that for years before the war. They never had better treatment than the U. S. soldiers give them.
I am OK and hope to stay that way. I wish to thank the townspeople for the cards and letters. We enjoy hearing from home. Yours truly,
Pvt. Peter De Stigter
APO 302 c.o. Postmaster
New York City, N. Y.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 26, 1943 p 2
(Excerpt from a letter from Pvt. Gerrit Heunink in Sicily Aug. 9, ’43)
The addresses of those two boys, that you sent me. Well, I’ve never seen Peter Dykstra since I left him at Casablanca, and Pete De Stigter I haven’t met him at all over here. But I think his outfit is pretty close in here someplace.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 2, 1943 p 2
Pvt. Peter De Stigter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lane De Stigter has a change of address. They have not heard from him for some time now and presume he is in Italy. Be sure to call for his correct address before sending further mail to him.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 14, 1943 p 2
Peter De Stigter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lane De Stigter writes from Italy
Dear Ed: Nov. 16, ‘43
I haven’t written you for a long time so it’s about time I do. I did get a few papers and it’s the real thing. There is so much that letters from home let out, and the newspaper gives it to us. I always enjoy reading the sermon in it. It’s a real help to us over here. As I said before you can’t tell one day from another over here. I had to ask my buddy what day it was to put it on this letter. Time moves faster over here it seems. We’re not bothered with ants and other insects like in Sicily; good old H2O is the bad thing now. I can understand what Flanders Field in the last war was now. I get a lot of mail from back home, and I wish to thank those who it is impossible to answer. The Sioux Center Civic Club and the American Legion in particular. It is good to know even if we’re gone and away for a while we’re not forgotten by our townspeople. We’re getting good food and clothing and are treated the best the army can under these present conditions. Well space is short and these V-mails are just the thing when you don’t have much to write. I’m still OK and hope I’ll be seeing you soon.
Yours truly, Pete
Pvt. Peter De Stigter 37467033
Btry. B. 105th AAA AW Bn.
APO 464
New York City, N. Y.
Source: Sioux Center News, Dec. 9, 1943 p 2
Peter De Stigter Writes From Italy
Dear Ed: March 14, ‘44
I just got through reading two of the News papers, so I decided to write and let you know I’m getting the paper, and that I enjoy it very much. While reading it my thoughts of this kind of life and of this war-torn country disappeared. It was just like being home and reading about Co-op meetings, ball games, weddings and what have you. There is one thing I’m glad I don’t have to bother with, that’s the ration news or the rationing itself.
I’m in a rest area at the present, good food and a dry place to sleep. While in this area I went to see Teddy and Gerrit Vander Berg. They were the first Sioux Center boys I’d seen across.
The boys are in bed and want these candles out I’m using to write by, so that’s that.
Pete
P.S. We’re getting some of those good Iowa pork chops and eggs, I had 2 eggs this morning sunny side up.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 30, 1944 p 2
IN ITALY
(photo)
PVT. PETER DE STIGTER
Pvt. Peter De Stigter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lane De Stigter, has been in the service since Dec. 17, 1942. He has been overseas since April, 1943, having taken part in several major campaigns including North Africa, Sicily and now is in Italy. He is in the anti-aircraft artillery division. His complete address is on record at the News office.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 20, 1944 p 10
Sam Holtrop is now stationed in Italy according to word received by his wife here this week. He is with a laundry company, and has the same APO number as Peter De Stigter.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 27, 1944 p 8
Local Man’s Outfit In Italy Has Fine Record
With the Fifth Army, Italy—Pfc. Peter DeStigter is a member of the 105th Antiaircraft Battalion, whose flak in the skies over the Mediterranean Theater since the invasion of North Africa has driven off 1000 German planes, shot down 75, probably destroyed an additional 46 and damaged many others.
Now on the Fifth Army front before the Po Valley, the 105th serve in Scotland and England, made amphibious assault landings in Northern Algeria, Sicily and Italy and fought in Tunisia. It has well over 700 days in combat to its credit. In Tunisia, in one week, men of the 105th shot down 14 enemy planes, possibly got nine others and fight as infantry against counterattacking Germans.
Source: The Sioux Center News, Thursday, April 12, 1945 (photo included)
Furloughs
Name, town and expiration date of furlough
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Peter De Stigter, Sioux Center 10-8-45
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Source: Sioux County Capital Sept. 13, 1945 p 1
Home On First Furlough In Four Years
(photo)
T/5 Peter De Stigter
T/5 Peter De Stigter arrived home last Thursday morning to spend his first furlough since he entered the service nearly four years ago.
Pete left for the service in Dec. 1941 and was sent overseas the following March without being given a furlough. He saw action in Africa, Sicily, Italy and Hungary and has a credit of five battle stars and 86 points.
While overseas he met Sam Holtrop, Elmer Heusinkveld and also visited with the Vander Berg brothers. He also saw the spot where Bert Kroon was killed.
He is now enjoying a 31 day furlough at the parental Lane De Stigter home.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 13, 1945 p 1
Servicemen Discharged
Servicemen who have filed discharges in the County Recorder’s office since October 17 include:
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Peter De Stigter, Sioux Center
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Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 25, 1945 p 1
Draft Board
Minutes of October 30, 1945
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Discharges have been granted to ….., Peter De Stigter, …..
Source: Sioux County Capital Nov. 8, 1945 p 1
Iowa, U.S., WWII Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954, Claim No. 211859
Peter De Stigter was born August 1, 1920 in Sioux Center, Iowa, and was living at Box 396, Sioux Center, Iowa prior to entering the service on Dec. 18, 1942. He served with the 105 AAA. AW. BN. and the 101 ORD. BN., departed for foreign service on May 9, 1943, returned on Sept. 1, 1945 and was honorably discharged on Oct. 14, 1945. His application for bonus pay was filed on July 25, 1949, and he received a $440.00 bonus.
Source: ancestry.com
Peter De Stigter died in 2000 and is buried in Memory Gardens Sioux Center Cemetery, Sioux County, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
