Two Hundred One Register – Third Draft
Two hundred and one men registered here Monday in Sioux County’s third military registration. Those registered on Feb. 16, 1942 were men between the ages of 35 and 45 and boys who have reached their 20th birthday. It is considered likely that another registration of men between the ages of 45 and 65 will be had also at some future date.
Mayor Frank G. Mcgill was chief registrar here Monday and was assisted by Postmaster H. J. Long, Glenn E. Benson, William De Jong, E. R. Scanlan, W. B. Hansen, W. F. Bowen, and the Misses Betty Van Eldik and Claire Copps.
The work went smoothly and about half were already registered by noon, with a scattering few coming in during the evening. It was a long day, from 7:00 a. m. to 9:00 p. m.
Following is a list of those who registered here: (Address Rock Valley unless otherwise noted.)
….; Reuben De Groot, Ireton;….
Source: Rock Valley Bee Feb. 20, 1942 p 1
LARGE NUMBER CALLED IN OCTOBER 23 DRAFT
The following registrants have been sent Orders to Report for Army Examination on October 23rd. These men will be sent for examination and if qualified, sworn in and given two weeks furlough before being sent to the reception center for actual induction.
…..
Reuben De Groot, Ireton –
…..
Source: Sioux County Index Oct. 15, 1942 p 1 and 5
43 Men To Leave For Service Nov. 6
…..
Of the group of 74 who went to Des Moines last week 43 must report for duty next week Friday, Nov. 6. … The 43 who must leave next Friday are:
…..
Reuben De Groot, Ireton, …..
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 29, 1942 p 1
Farewell service
Many relatives and friends from here went to Orange City Friday afternoon to attend the farewell service which was held at the City Hall, and see the boys entrain for Des Moines where they were inducted into the army. Ed Bolluyt, member of the draft board, was chairman of the program. Rev. Bronkema gave a brief message. Tech. Sgt. Marion Vande Brake, home on furlough from Pickett, Virginia, and Corp. Alvin Den Herder, also home on furlough from Camp Cook, Calif., told about their experiences of army life. Rev. Henry Colenbrander closed with prayer. Andrew Vermeer and John De Groot and Reuben De Groot left from Sioux Center, also Elmer Lutjens of Hull. …
Source: Alton Democrat Nov. 13, 1942 p 7
Pvt. Reuben De Groot, Co. D, 63rd Bn. Med. Tng., Camp Barkeley, Texas
Source: De Volksvriend Nov. 26, 1942 p 8
Pvt. Reuben De Groot, son of Dick De Groot has a slight change of address. He is still at Camp Barkeley, Texas and expects his new barracks soon, as he has just a tent to stay in now with no floor and no electric light. He is anxious for the day when he can move. His address is Pvt. Reuben De Groot, Co. D. 1st Plat., 63rd Bn. Med. Tng., Camp Barkeley, Texas.
Sioux Center News Dec. 10, 1942 p 8
Reuben De Groot, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dick De Groot has been moved from Camp Barkeley to Camp Wolters, Texas. His wife plans to go to see him soon and she would like to contact anyone else who plans to go there. His address is as follows: Pvt Reuben De Groot 37440495, 129th Station Hospital, Camp Wolters, Texas, U.S. Army.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 11, 1943 p 9
Mrs. Reuben De Groot left Wednesday morning for Camp Wolters, Texas. She will remain there as long as her husband continues to be stationed at Camp Wolters. Mr Dick De Groot accompanied her. They left from LeMars by train.
Source: Rock Valley Bee Feb. 19, 1943 p 5
In Medical Unit
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PFC REUBEN DE GROOT
Reuben De Groot, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dick De Groot living west of Sioux Center entered the army on Nov. 8, 1942. He is with the Medical Detachment at Camp Wolters, Texas. He has not had a furlough, and his wife the former Bernice Vande Berg is staying there with him in an apartment. He comes home at night. They are having nice weather and fine gardens there at present.
He expects to stay there for several weeks more as the other boys who were with him have been moved out. His address: PFC Reuben De Groot, 129th Station Hospital, Camp Wolters, Texas.
Source: Sioux Center News May 20, 1943 p 1
OVER HUNDRED ON HONOR ROLL
Ireton’s Honor Roll on the Victory Service board, located on the vacant lot on the west side of Main Street has passed the 100 mark long ago and there are still other names to be added. It has been requested several times by boys in the service to have the names published so that they can see for themselves who are doing their bit. The readers of Ireton and community will also get full information and by keeping this copy can refer to it from time to time.
Heading the list are three names of men who have made the supreme sacrifice for their country and on the Honor Roll they have gold stars. They are Ted Sneiders, Robert C. Cooper and Harold Marlenau.
The other names are as follows:
….., Reuben De Groot, …..
Source: Hawarden Independent June 17, 1943 p 6
PFC and Mrs. Reuben De Groot arrived home Saturday from Camp Wolters, Texas for a week’s furlough. They are leaving from Sheldon early Saturday morning hoping to arrive in camp by Sunday evening to be back on duty Monday morning.
Source: Sioux Center News June 24, 1943 p 8
Address Change:
PFC Reuben De Groot 37440495
APO 9026, c. o. Postmaster
San Francisco, Calif. Call for complete address.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 4, 1943 p 2
Mrs. Reuben De Groot (nee' Bernice Vanden Berg) returned home Monday from Texas where she has been with her husband. Reuben left for overseas duty recently, and any of his friends who would like his address may call Bert G. Vanden Berg home. Mrs. De Groot had been with him nine months, and now intends to stay her at her parental home.
Source: Rock Valley Bee Nov. 5, 1943 p 5
PFC Reuben De Groot, formerly of Rock Valley, received his Good Conduct medal on October 23rd for one year of service with the U. S. Army. Reuben is in the Medical Dept. His wife is staying with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Vanden Berg at Rock Valley as Reuben expects to be sent overseas in the near future.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 18, 1943 p 2
Mrs. Reuben De Groot was pleasantly surprised at 7:00 P.M. Sunday evening, Jan. 23, when her husband PFC Reuben De Groot, who is stationed in Hawaii, telephoned her to congratulate her on her birthday. The connections were very good. He was in the best of health, and said it was a beautiful country, but of course, like all the other boys would prefer being home. He also wishes to thank everyone in this way who has remembered him in various ways, by cards, letters, packages, etc. being he is kept too busy to write and thank each one individually.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 27, 1944 p 2
Pfc. Reuben De Groot, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dick De Groot has a new address which can be had by calling his parents or the News office. His APO number is 968, c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News July 13, 1944 p 8
Pfc. Reuben De Groot of the Medical Corps located somewhere in the Pacific has received the rating of a corporal.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 31, 1944 p 7
Mrs. Reuben De Groot is now making her home in Denver, Colo. and is working in a defense plant. She likes the work fine, finds it very interesting. Her husband, Cpl. Reuben De Groot, is now somewhere in the Philippine Islands. He is in the best of health, and is kept very busy. His address remains the same. She also informs us that her brother, Pvt. Gerrit Vanden Berg has a change of address which is as follows: Pvt. Gerrit Vanden Berg 37772515, Co. A. 32nd Bn., 5th Repl. Regt., A.G.F. Repl. Depot No. 1, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 8, 1945 p 2
Mrs. Reuben De Groot sends news of her husband and her brother who are in the service:
Rock Valley, Iowa
April 4, 1945
Dear friends:
We received word from my brother, Pvt. Gerrit Vanden Berg. He states he is well, and so far can’t complain. The eats have been good, and plenty smokes. But the mail was very slow. He hasn’t received any mail from the States the last two weeks. It comes through very irregular, at one time he received twenty-one letters at once. He is now somewhere in Holland, and has another change of address. Will you please send the News to his new address?
My husband Cpl. Reuben De Groot is still somewhere in the Philippines. He received three stars, one ribbon, and an arrow-head, for the combat in which he took part recently. The last word I received from him he was in good health. His address remains the same. He, like all the other boys, hopes the war will soon end, so they can come home.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Reuben De Groot
Rock Valley, Iowa
My brother’s new address:
Pvt. Gerrit Vanden Berg 37772515
H/S Co. 381st Engr. Combat Bn.
APO 339, c/o Postmaster
New York City, N.Y.
Source: Sioux Center News April 12, 1945 p 2
Rock Valley, Iowa
May 5, 1945
Dear Sir:
Just a few lines to inform you that Pvt. Gerrit Vanden Berg has a slight change of address. His APO is now 103. He is somewhere in Germany. A short time ago he had the privilege of visiting with a couple at Maastricht. He spent a very nice evening with them. They were happy to have Gerrit visit with them, for it isn’t very often they meet an American soldier that can speak the Dutch language. Gerrit is with the 9th army.
I have also received word from my husband Cpl. Reuben De Groot after not hearing from him for some time. He is now on Okinawa Island. The weather there is much nicer than on Leyte. As soon as things calm down a bit, he expected to see Bert Hubers and Marvin Te Grotenhuis. But at the time he wrote this letter he didn’t know that Bert was wounded, and Marvin was sick.
They both enjoy the News, for it gives them all the News from home and the boys in service.
Here’s hoping the boys may all soon come home.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Reuben De Groot
Source: Sioux Center News May 10, 1945 p 2
New Address:
Cpl. Reuben De Groot 37440495
Hq. 71st Med. Bn.
APO 902, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News July 26, 1845 p 8
Cpl. Reuben De Groot has recently received the rating of Sgt. The rest of his address remains the same. He is now in Korea, and works in the motor pool as mechanic, and hopes to come home in the near future on the point system.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 1, 1945 p 10
Mrs. Reuben De Groot informs us that no more mail should be sent to her husband Sgt. Reuben De Groot as he expects to move to a replacement depot soon and then home.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 29, 1945 p 2
REUBEN DE GROOT DISCHARGED
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REUBEN DE GROOT
Rock Vally, Iowa
Jan. 3, 1945
Dear Sir:
Just to inform you that Sgt. Reuben De Groot arrived home Friday, Dec. 21st. He received his honorable discharge at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. He was in the army for 38 months, of which 25 months was spent overseas. During these months overseas he spent some time in the Hawaiian Islands. From there he took part in the invasion of Leyte, P. I. On Easter morning he landed with the invasion forces on Okinawa. Shortly after peace was declared with Japan he went to Seoul, Korea. After being there a little better than two months, he was sent home on the point system, arriving in the States on Dec. 8.
He has two battle stars and arrowhead on his Asiatic Pacific ribbon. Also two stars on his Philippine liberation ribbon. The 71st Med. Bn. to which he was assigned was awarded the meritorious unit citation, for evacuating all wounded soldiers during the battle of Okinawa, either by air or by sea.
He wishes to take this means to thank each and every one, who remembered him with cards, letters, the Sioux Center News, and packages during his time in the service.
Sincerely,
Mr. and Mrs. Reuben De Groot
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 10, 1946 p 2
Honorably Discharged
Nine Sioux County former service men filed their discharge papers the past week, all former Army men, as follows:
Reuben De Groot, Rock Valley
…..
Source: Alton Democrat Nov. 21, 1946 p 1
Iowa, U.S. WWII Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954, Claim Number 62537
Reuben De Groot, serial #37440495, was born Feb. 25, 1921 in Ireton Iowa, where he was still living just prior to his induction into the army on Nov. 6, 1942 at Camp Dodge, Iowa. He served with the 71st Med. Bn. He left for foreign service on Nov. 8, 1943, returned on Dec. 8, 1945 and was honorably discharged on Dec. 20, 1945. His application for bonus pay was filed on May 9, 1949 and he was awarded $462.50 bonus pay for his military service.
Source: ancestry.com
