Killed or Wounded—
WAR TRAGEDY STRIKES HOME HERE
Casualties Bring the Battle Closer to the Midwest
The COLD hand of sorrow has been laid on the hearts of many American mothers and fathers since that December Sabbath when the Japanese attacked Oahu, and parents of Sioux City and the surrounding territory have felt their share of grief over the boys who aren’t coming back.
Two Sioux City youths are “missing in action” and several have been wounded in action in the Pacific ocean. Sioux City residents had relatives either killed or wounded.
No Official Lists
Compilation of a list of casualties since the war began is difficult because all information concerning the sailors and soldiers involved must come from relatives. No official casualty lists are being issued.
Reports Changed.
Persons first reported killed or missing later are found alive, while some believed safe are reported subsequently to have been lost.
One such case was that of Peter Elmer Duistermarsh, 26, Navy electrician, son of Mrs. Alice Duistermarsh of Storm Lake and a brother of Mrs. Herbert Olson, 1115 ½ Oak street.
On December 17, Duistermarsh was reported killed in action and it was not until December 31 that the correction was made.
On the other hand, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Irish of Salix heard December 13 that their son, Robert C. Irish, had been wounded. On January 6, he became “missing.”
Mrs. Elizabeth Bear of Kingsley heard December 21 that her son, Marion Addison Bear, was alive and safe, although four days previously the War Department listed him as killed in action.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, January 18, 1942
Peter Elmer Duistermars was born Jan. 25, 1916 to William D. and Alice Bonnema Duistermars. He died Aug. 14, 1989 and is buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, CA.
Peter served with the U.S. Navy. He also served in Korea.
Source: ancestry.com
