Four Local Boys At Miami Beach Florida
(photo)
Here are four of Sioux Center’s local boys who are stationed in Miami Beach, Florida. All four of them left here in January to serve their country. There are a good many other Sioux County boys there, several of them having completed their basic training, and already have been transferred forward. Here are their names: John De Goei, Everett Franken, Henry Franken, and Bert J. Dykhuizen.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 4, 1943 p 1
Pvt. John De Goei, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. De Goei is stationed in Mississippi. His address: Pvt. John De Goei, 473rd Base Squadron, Army Air Base, Laurel, Miss.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 18, 1943 p 3
Pvt. John De Goei is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert De Goei of Sioux Center:
Laurel, Miss.
May 1, 1943
Dear Ed: - Well, I guess it is about my turn to write you once. I am here what you call the beloved south land or dixie land. But for my part they can leave out the beloved. It really is hot here, 100 today and they say it will get up to 130. The town is as big as Sioux City and the people are about half blackies. The people out here are very friendly though. The farms are around 15 acres and they work that with one mule and usually forget to feed it the way the mule looks to me. They raise a lot of vegetables here in the early summer as it gets too hot later on. The rest of the crop is peanuts and cotton. There is a lot of timber here and also lots of snakes.
I am in an airbase here. It is a small base. There are around 1500 soldiers here. Henry Franken is with me here too. I work in base headquarters doing office work which I like fine. I live off the base and have to be there from 7:30 in the morning until 5 at night. We got an apartment about 3 blocks from town.
Well Ed, I really appreciate you sending my Sioux Center News. A fellow really goes for news from his home town when he is far away. Well I must close now. From your friends,
Pvt. And Mrs. John De Goei
473rd B. Hq. B. Sq.
Army Air Base
Laurel, Miss.
Source: Sioux Center News May 6, 1943 p 19
Pvt. Joe De Goei who is located at Laurel, Miss. is expected home this week to spend a furlough. Mrs. De Goei who has been living near him will accompany him home.
Source: Alton Democrat July 23, 1943 p 12
PROMOTED TO CORPORAL
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert De Goei received word from their son Joe that he had been promoted from Pvt. First Class to Corporal. Joe has been in the army six months now, is doing office work, and likes it fine. His address is: Cpl. John De Goei, 473rd Base Sqd., Army Air Force Base, Laurel, Miss.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 5, 1943 p 8
Cpl. and Mrs. John De Goei of Laurel, Miss., arrived here on a 10-day furlough and are visiting in the home of the former’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Koedam.
Source: Rock Valley Bee Mar. 3, 1944 p 10
No demotion was intended when the News tagged Joe De Goei as Private instead of Corporal in last week’s news item. Corporal Joe is getting along fine as a typist at the Laurel, Mississippi Air Base where he is stationed.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 9, 1944 p 10
Cpl. John De Goei has this new address:
37470130
Hq. Field Base Det.
Meridan, Mississippi
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 6, 1944 p 4
COMES BY PLANE
Cpl. Joe De Goei spent a few hours in Sioux Center on Monday. He flew from Mississippi to Sioux City. He arrived home at noon and left again in the evening. All soldiers at that base are given credit for any number of hours they spend flying, so Joe knowing that this plane was coming to Sioux City took this opportunity to get in some hours and also visit Sioux Center. Mrs. De Goei who is also in Mississippi and has been seriously ill has been improving.
Source: Sioux Center News June 8, 1944 p 16
Mr. and Mrs. G. De Goei, Cpl. and Mrs. Joe De Goei and the Art De Goei family of Middleburg drove to Orange City on Thursday evening where a farewell family gathering was held for Cpl. De Goei at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ravenstein. About 30 people were present and a very pleasant evening was spent.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 28, 1944 p 8
Cpl. Joe De Goei left from Sioux City early Tuesday morning to return to camp in Mississippi following a three weeks furlough which was spent with his wife and parents here. Mrs. De Goei will remain with her parents here for some time.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 28, 1944 p 12
Mrs. Joe De Goei will leave the latter part of this week for Key Field, Meridan, Miss. where she will make an extended visit with her husband Cpl. John De Goei who is stationed there.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 7, 1944 p 8
Cpl. Joe De Goei and wife arrived home Monday on a ten day furlough from Key Field, Miss., to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. De Goei.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 30, 1945 p 8
Cpl. Joe De Goei spent a three day visit at the parental home here while enroute to Rapid City, S.D.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 15, 1945 p 3
DISCHARGED
Cpl. Joe De Goei is expected to arrive home this Thursday from Rapid City, S. D. and will receive his discharge the early part of next week. Joe was home on a 3 day pass the past week and called his wife Saturday evening telling her of his discharge. They will make their home in their house next to his parents’ residence where they lived before he was called into the service. Joe has no definite plans as to what he will be doing.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 6, 1945 p 12
