Record List Classified by Draft Board Wednesday, February 17th
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On motion the following registrants were transferred from Class 2A and placed in Class 2C:
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12,037A – John Andrew De Zeeuw
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Source: Alton Democrat Feb. 26, 1943 p 8
Among the Sioux Center boys who left on Tuesday to take their army examinations were Milton Van Muyden, Gerrit Robert Hulstein, Elmer Vander Ploeg, Arthur Schuiteman and John De Zeeuw.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 14, 1943 p 6
33 Registrants Inducted Into Armed Forces
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The following named men were inducted into the armed services on October 13th:
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John Andrew De Zeeuw, Sioux Center
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Source: Alton Democrat Oct. 21, 1943 p 1
Draft Board Minutes
Minutes of October 19,1943
Prev. New
Class Class
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12037A John A. De Zeeuw
1-A 1-C Ind.
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Source: Sioux County Capital Oct. 29, 1943 p 1
Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Vermeer entertained at a family dinner at their home on Tuesday evening in honor of their brother, John De Zeeuw, who left for the service on Wednesday afternoon.
Source: Sioux County Index Nov. 4, 1943 p 7
66 In Service From 1st Ref. Church
A short farewell service was held at the First Reformed Church on Sunday afternoon for four of their boys who left on Wednesday afternoon for army service. The boys are Gerrit Robert Hulstein, Arthur Schuiteman, John De Zeeuw and Elmer Vander Ploeg and each boy received a small pocket Bible and a C.E. cross from the C.E. members in the evening. This brings the number of men in the service from this church up to 66 and one of the stars representing Bernard M. Vermeer has been changed into gold the past week.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 11, 1943 p 7
John, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew De Zeeuw, writes from Camp Roberts, Calif.
Tues. eve., Dec. 28, 1943
Dear Marie and S. C. Friends:
Just a few lines to let you know I get the News in good shape and read it from stem to stern. I also get my letters directly from home. For a while some of them had about 20 postmarks on them; Co. D, Co. C, 1st Platoon, 2nd Platoon, Ft. Leavenworth, Reception Center and what have you. In case some don’t know, it’s 1st Platoon, Co. D, 89th.
Well I’m in the infantry as they call it. I’m in the heavy weapons Company but didn’t catch on to what it meant until I carried a machine gun up a 45 degree hill. These foot hills, as they call them, are really mountains and when you get half way to the top, providing the tail wind holds out, the sergeant yells “on the double”, which means run like heck or the rest of the company will tramp you into the ground. A fella knows that if he stops or falls out, he’ll never get that heavy, full field pack in motion again so you automatically go on.
We’ve had some classes in camouflaging, and if I get good enough at it I hope I can stay in bed all day without the Colonel noticing it. Then we will be getting some practice in digging fox-holes. I’m afraid if I ever get to digging they’ll have me on the AWOL list for about a week after that unless my spade gives out.
The sunny weather out here is OK, but lately the sunbeams are turning to raindrops. You can’t help but get sunshine when you are on these hills. Another few feet up and you could light a cigar on the sun’s flames.
K.P. isn’t so bad here. Nothing to do but peel a few thousand potatoes, carry out a few tons of garbage and wash dishes three time a day for some 300 men. After that you unload a few truckloads of food and in your spare time clean up the mess hall.
We have pretty short hours here. We get up all the way from 4 to 6 and if we hurry we get off at 9 or 9:30 that night.
Well speaking seriously for a minute or two, I think if most of my buddies in the 1st platoon were offered a discharge they would turn it down. They want this mess over with and they stay in there pitching, even tho the going is a little rough once in a while, especially after those 8 hour night hikes via the compass method.
We have some swell officers and non-coms. If an American soldier isn’t far superior to the enemies it’s his own fault because he gets the best of instruction, clothing and equipment.
I finished firing today for record in the machine gun. I made sharpshooter and am satisfied with that. Consequently I made practically the same scores in the machine gun as I did in the M1 rifle. It poured all day and at times we could hardly see the target. With all the interference of the rain I think our platoon did OK tho.
In closing, my thanks to all who sent cards, letters and gifts. I get a lot of mail and its hard to write everyone. I did start to send Christmas cards but when I got to number 50 I figured first come first served and I quit. However I appreciate all the mail and probably next Christmas you’ll get the return letter.
Combining the News and all the letters, I don’t think there’s much I don’t know about the B.B. games, programs, etc. There are some letters I especially enjoy, however. I’ll let you guess whose they are.
Keep on sending the paper, Marie, I really enjoy it. Till later and Happy New Year to all.
Johnny De Zeeuw
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 6, 1944 p 2
John A. De Zeeuw, who is stationed at Camp Roberts, Calif. called his parents by telephone on Sunday evening to send special birthday greetings to his mother who celebrated her birthday on Monday.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 24, 1944 p 8
Pvt. John De Zeeuw, who has been stationed at Camp Roberts, Calif. came home early Sunday morning to spend a ten day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew De Zeeuw. John will leave for Fort Ord, Calif. from here.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 6, 1944 p 2
Pvt. John De Zeeuw has been transferred from Camp Roberts, Calif. and has this new address:
Pvt. John De Zeeuw 37486737
Co. B, 1st Regt. Repl. Depot No. 2
Fort Ord, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 27, 1944 p 8
Pvt. John A. De Zeeuw has an overseas address which can be obtained by calling his parents or the News.
Source: Sioux Center News May 11, 1944 p 2
John De Zeeuw has an overseas address which may not be published at present. Call the News or his parents for his correct address.
Source: Sioux Center News June 15, 1944 p 8
In Bouganville
(photo)
PVT. JOHN A. DE ZEEUW
Pvt. John A. De Zeeuw, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew De Zeeuw entered the service Nov. 3, 1943. He received his basic training at Camp Roberts, Calif. He has had one furlough in April and left the states on May 3. John has been placed in the medical detachment and at present is in Bouganville, which has been a Jap-infested jungle island. John is a graduate of the local high school and also attended Northwestern Junior College. Call his parents or the News for his address.
Source: Sioux Center News July 13, 1944 p 2
TWO DUTCHMEN MEET IN BOUGANVILLE
Captain Del Te Paske’s recent letters to home folks, tell of his pleasure in visiting with Private John De Zeeuw whom he met and had a long visit with lately. John left the states in May so has not been in this jungle camp so very long. He is the second soldier from Sioux Center Del has met since he entered the service in October, 1941, the first being Marine Billy Beernink whom he saw briefly at Guadalcanal.
Source: Sioux Center News July 13, 1944 p 2
Wins Good Conduct Medal In Jungle Station
(photo)
PFC JOHN A. DE ZEEUW
With the American Infantry Division
Somewhere in the Southwest Pacific – For demonstrating fidelity through faithful and exact performance of duty, Pfc. John A. De Zeeuw of Sioux Center, Iowa has been awarded the Good Conduct Medal in a veteran jungle-fighting infantry regiment in the Division.
Pvt. De Zeeuw has served in New Caledonia, Guadalcanal and on Bougainville and is entitled to wear one star in his Asiatic-Pacific campaign ribbon for active participation in action against the Japanese in the latter theater.
The Sioux Center soldier has been overseas 7 months. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew De Zeeuw of Sioux Center.
The Americal Division is the only division in combat to be designated by name rather than number, and was the first American Army unit to engage the Japanese in offensive operations.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 14, 1944 p 10
John De Zeeuw, who is stationed in the Philippine Islands has been promoted to the rank of Cpl. The remainder of his address remains the same.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 1, 1945 p 10
Sends Flowers To Mothers
John De Zeeuw, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew De Zeeuw, remembered all the mothers of the First Reformed Church last Sunday with flowers. He especially dedicated them to the three Gold Star Mothers, Mrs. L. A. Brunsting, Mrs. H. W. Vermeer and Mrs. Gerrit Kempers. The he sent flowers also for his own mother, Mrs. Andrew De Zeeuw, his grandmother, Mrs. Peter Berghuis and his fiancée Ella Duistemars. Johnny is in the Philippines.
Source: Sioux Center News May 31, 1945 p 1
DE ZEEUW WITH AMERICAL DIV.
(photo)
SGT JOHN A. DE ZEEUW
With the Americal (Correct) Infantry Division in the Philippines: John A. De Zeeuw, son of Mr. Andrew De Zeeuw of Sioux Center, Ia., has been promoted from technician fifth grade to technician fourth grade while serving with a veteran medical detachment on Cebu.
Overseas 15 months, Sgt. De Zeeuw has seen service in Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Leyte and Cebu.
He is entitled to wear the Combat Medical Badge, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon with two battle stars and the Philippine Liberation ribbon with star.
The Sioux Center soldier is a member of the Americal Division, the only Army division to be designated by name rather than number. The unit is also noteworthy as the first Army division to launch an offensive operation against the Japanese in the Pacific war, an honor won at Guadalcanal in 1942.
Source: Sioux Center News July 19, 1945 p 2
Address Changes
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Sgt. John A. De Zeeuw 37486737
24th Field Hospital
APO 503, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 15, 1945 p 2
Sgt. John A. De Zeeuw arrived at the parental Andrew De Zeeuw home on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 16th with his discharge from the army. He had been stationed in the Pacific theater for 22 months.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 28, 1946 p 1
Servicemen Discharged
Discharge papers were file as follows at the office of the County Recorder, Milton Van Roekel, since Feb. 8:
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John A. De Zeeuw, Sioux Center
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Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 28, 1946 p 10
Iowa, U. S., WWII Bonus Case Files 1947-1954, Claim No. 98343
John A. De Zeeuw, SN 37486737, was born October 22, 1923 at Sioux Center, Iowa, which was where he was living when he registered for the draft prior to entering the army on November 3, 1943 at Fort Crook, Nebraska. He served with the 182nd Infantry, Americal Division, left for foreign service on May 5, 1944 and returned on February 8, 1946. He was honorably discharged on February 15, 1946. His application for bonus pay was filed on May 20, 1949, for which he received $342.50.
Source: ancestry.com
