More Registrants Shifted From 3-C to 2-C By Draft Board
….. The following new registrants were placed in 1-A: George De Vries, Henry Vander Vliet, Arnold Kaemingk, Emmet J. Hodapp, Anthony Overman, John C. Van Oosbree. …..
Source: Alton Democrat May 25, 1944, p 1
They’ll Soon Be Called to Service
The following left Friday morning, June 23rd, for Camp Dodge, Iowa, where they will take their preinduction examination: …..; Arnold T. Kaemingk, Sioux Center; …..
Source: Alton Democrat June 29, 1944, p 1
SIOUX COUNTY MEN LEAVE FOR SERVICE
The following men left Sunday, October 22 for Fort Snelling, Minn. to be inducted into service.
… Arnold T. Kaemingk, Sioux Center …
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 26, 1944, p 2
Draft Board …, Arnold T. Kaemingk, …, have all been classed from 1-A to 1-C Ind.
Source: Sioux County Capital Nov. 9, 1944, p 1
Arnold Kaemingk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Kaemingk of Sioux Center who recently left for the service is stationed at Camp Blanding, Florida. His complete address is: Pvt. Arnold Kaemingk Co. B. 218th I.I.B. Camp Blanding, Florida
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 16, 1944, p 8
Arnold Kaemingk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Kaemingk, writes from Camp Blanding, Fla. Christmas nite
Dear Friends: Today is Christmas and I wouldn’t know of a better time to write a line of greetings to Sioux Center.
Christmas this year is quite different than usual for me. All it means in the army is “another day off”. Another thing is that instead of the usual white Christmas it was hot and sunny. About 65 degrees.
This morning I went to church and did my “weekly wash”. (Boy, I really make a good wash woman by now). I spent the afternoon writing letters and playing lazy by sleeping a while. I am in the Infantry and I guess you know what I do in there.
You know that song that goes “What do you do in the Infantry?” Well, I am finding out the hard way. Yesterday afternoon two of my buddies and I went to St. Augustine, Fla. It really is a beautiful town but very old. It is the oldest city in the United States. All I saw were signs like “This was built in 1790” or “George Washington slept here”. Then to top it off they have the old horse and buggy taxis. With negroes running them. I also saw the Atlantic Ocean. I want to take this opportunity to thank the “Sioux Center Business Girls” for the Christmas gift they sent me. It was very useful.
In 15 minutes lights go out so I better be getting in bed. I will learn this southern way of speaking before long. They sure are odd.
So long for now. Just another GI Joe, Arnold Kaemingk Co. B. 218 I.T.B. Camp Blanding, Florida
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 4, 1945, p 9
Pvt. Arnold Kaemingk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Kaemingk, who is stationed at Camp Blanding, Fla. expects to move very soon so any mail going to his old address will not reach him.
His new address will be published as soon as it is received. Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 15, 1945, p 2
Pvt. Arnold Kaemingk, who has been stationed at Camp Blanding, Florida since he left for the service several months ago arrived at the parental Ted Kaemingk home early Wednesday morning to spend a week’s furlough with family and friends. He will leave again next week Thursday.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 22, 1945, p 1
Pvt. Arnold Kaemingk A.G.F. Replac. Depot No. 2 Fort Ord, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 1, 1945, p 2
Pvt. Arnold Kaemingk has this address: Co. g. 2nd Regt., AGFRD 2, Fort Ord, California.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 29, 1945, p 2
Pvt. Arnold Kaemingk’s outgoing address is: Casual Co. 11, Platoon 1, APO 15884, c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 5, 1945, p 1
Arnold Kaemingk Writes From Philippines (photo)
PVT. ARNOLD KAEMINGK
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Kaemingk have received word from their son Arnold that he has landed in the Philippines. April 28, 1945
Dear Folks, Bro. and Sis, A cheery good evening and here goes with that long letter I promised you. Today is a swell day. Plenty hot, but that isn’t bad. The sun is just going down and it looks like a beautiful evening ahead. I sure like it here.
I help out in the orderly room with typing and make out details lately. Not much work and it keeps me from K.P. and other work. The typewriter is busy now otherwise I would type this. Four of us work there. Imagine, today I got to play a softball game. Boy, did I like that. We played bareback, and I got a little browner again. Boy, am I glad that boat ride is over. I wish I could tell you how long I was on it. After 30 days, I will tell you.
You know, this place really reminds me of Iowa. It is just like it as far as soil goes. Not many trees and in the morning the roosters are crowing. There are Philippine farms near so that explains where the roosters are. Rice fields are nearby and big water buffalo wander around over them. The Philippinoes really look up to us. They are really happy to be free again. When we ride past them in trucks they throw bananas at us and they all put up their fingers showing the V for victory sign. Even wee little kids do it. Most of the Philippinoes speak English. They aren’t supposed to come by us but they sneak up and sell us bananas, coconuts, pineapples and even watermelons. Of course everything is warm but it is good, regardless.
The money system is this way: One peso = 50c American money and 1 centavis = ½c American money. These are the only kind so it is very easy to catch on to it. The peso is a bill and the centavis a coin. We have a PX here today. I had two boxes of cookies, 3 pkgs of Spearmint gum and 4 candy bars. That is nothing to kick about.
I have too many letters to mention, nevertheless I will write them all Sunday. Food is good here. A lot better than on the boat. Boy, on the boat it was bad. Eggs when boiled were green as heck and those with chicks in it were pretty good meat. If you are hungry you can eat anything, though.
Since I was acting first Sergeant I got a hold of two meal tickets and ate 4 times a day. On top of that we got apples every day. I usually managed to get about eight a day. They really are good too. Later on I had some friends on KP and they sneaked me pie and fruit. They could get all they wanted.
Well, I’ll say goodbye again and hello to everyone.
Love, Arnold Pvt. Arnold Kaemingk 270th Repl. Co. 12th Bn. APO 711, c/o Postmaster San Francisco, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News May 10, 1945, p 1
Here is another letter from Arnold Kaemingk in the Philippines. He is the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Kaemingk.
May 1, 1945 Dear Friends: After a long, dull boat ride, I finally landed in the Philippines. I can’t tell you where I landed but it is on a dandy place compared to any I have seen on the way. I am in a Replacement Co. and as yet have not done much over here.
Now for a little about my boat ride. There is only one boat ride I ever want again and that is back to the States. Living on a boat is the worst living I know of. It is hard to get used to the rocking back and forth all the time. The first night as I walked through a six-foot-wide alley I hit the sides every other second. It wasn’t long and my stomach started rocking too. To make a long story short – I was seasick two days.
The natives treat us good. They all speak English pretty well. They like to trade with us but you have to watch out or they will outsmart you. A package of cigarettes will buy you a pineapple, 10 bananas, or a coconut.
There are signs of war here and the Philippinoes can tell terrible stories as to how they lived thru the years the Japs ruled them. Since I have been here I received 35 letters and two birthday cards. I haven’t seen a Sioux Center News for over a month so I am anxious to receive one again. We were on the ocean when word came of Roosevelt’s death. That really was a shock to all us fellows. Regardless of what Joe Te Veltrup thinks, Roosevelt was a great man.
We live in 12 man tents here and they are fairly cool. The weather really is hot here. Just like Iowa in August. Food is good here, but I wish some of it would be cool for a change. The sun almost serves the purpose of a stove.
Until you hear from me again, lots of luck, Sioux Center.
A friend, Arnold T. Kaemingk Pvt. Arnold T. Kaemingk 270th Repl. Co. 12th Bn. APO 711, c/o Postmaster San Francisco, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News May 17, 1945, p 2
Pvt. Arnold Kaemingk’s correct address is: 37 Inf. Div., APO 37, c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News June 7, 1945, p 8
Pvt. Arnold T. Kaemingk Co. D. 145th Infantry APO 37, c/o Postmaster San Francisco, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News June 14, 1945, p 8
Arnold Kaemingk Writes From Luzon Tuguegarao, Luzon
Sept. 9, Dear Ed and Marie: It’s about time for me to let you know I’m still OK and receiving your paper. Today I had one which came over in 10 days. They usually take 6 weeks to make 7,000 miles. I hope they continue to come that quick but regardless of age they are still welcome and thoroughly read.
Looks as if the “Rising Sun” has finally set. I suppose they had atomic-ache and turned chicken. It was really welcome news to hear.When it was announced there was steady cheering and gunfire for five minutes and some fellas went crazy to say the least. Now everybody is wondering when they get to go home.
As for me, I don’t worry much about it because my 22 points look small compared to the old men here who have 45 on up to 90. Our division (the 37th) is assigned the occupation of Luzon. We are moving soon and are setting up 80 miles from Manila. I didn’t intend this to be a long letter so before I go too far I’ll close. Besides I was supposed to be on guard 20 minutes ago but as long as it is raining they won’t see me out there. It rains practically every day lately.
The “Flips” (Filipines) says it’s the rainy season and by the looks of things I don’t doubt it a bit. Enough of this nonsense, so here goes. Your friend, Arnold K.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept 27, 1945, p 1
Pfc. Arnold Kaemingk is now stationed in Manila and has this new address: Co. B. 50th M.P. Bn., APO 75, c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 25, 1945, p 2
Cpl. Arnold Kaemingk Co, C. 50th M.P. Bn. APO 75, c/o Postmaster San Francisco, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 31, 1946, p 4
Manila, P.I. April 7, 1946
Dear Ed and All: Heap long time since you heard from me so I’ll send a few lines letting you know I’m OK (except for a case of “low points”) and still receiving the paper. I won’t say regularly as that isn’t so. Every now and then I get about three or four in one day, but I’m not blaming you as I know it is the fault of the lousy mail service we are getting. But the army, as usual, came out with a very logical excuse a few weeks ago which was “no planes”. Of course, we all believed that. Now they blame the typhoons for holding up the planes which does sound sensible.
Not much doing in Manila these days. There still are plenty of service men over here but after the Philippines are given their independence most of them will leave. It looks as if this outfit is slated for permanent duty here as we still are getting plenty of replacements.
By the way, if I want any friends among the ex-GI’s I better let you know that I don’t pull MP duty of any kind. I work in Personnel so that should leave me free of all the thoughts and names you have stored away for the MP’s.
There are a few more Sioux Centerites in Manila, Wilbur Huisman and I see each other often. He was over today again. Last Sunday Herman Eppink and Wilbur were both over and we had a good visit. We also went uptown, took pictures, etc.
Well, that’s about all I have to say. It’s about enough nonsense to print in any paper, don’t you think? So long and with the aid of congress I might be seeing you before too long. Your friend, Sgt. Arnold Kaemingk Co. “C’ 50th MP Bn. APO 75, c/o Postmaster San Francisco, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News April 18, 1946, p 2
ARNOLD KAEMINGK, MANILA, SAYS G.I.’s MESS ISN’T MUCH TO BRAG ABOUT
The following paragraphs are take from a clipping sent to Ted Kaemingk by his son Arnold who is stationed in Manila, regarding the food situation.
Five out of six soldiers answered “No” when asked “Has the food in your mess hall improved lately?” They complain mostly about the lack of fresh meat, saying that the Filipino cooks do all right when they get something to cook. One company spent company funds for fresh vegetables. French toast is the breakfast menu any day in the week, and C-rations, meat loaf, and stew. The quantity is sufficient, but lacks the interest of variety and quality according to the Pacifican Staff reporter who interviewed these men. The situation cited above is one that may remind us to take thought for the famine sufferers. We live in the “bread-basket-of-the-world” here in the middle west, and take for granted our sumptuous food supplies, and that we must share our food supplies with our armed forces and the needy people in the world.
Source: Sioux Center News June 20, 1946, p 10
In a recent letter to his parents, Sgt. Arnold Kaemingk wrote the following concerning the American wives and children who has just landed: “This afternoon we went to the piers and watched the General Aultman unload the American wives and children. Seeing those white women and kids gives you a picture of American on a small scale. Our Co. Commander’s wife and 7-year-old son arrived too, today. It’s foolish for them to come over here, I think, very poor living conditions, and everything is hard to get here.”
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 5, 1946, p 10
S/Sgt. Orville Kuiken, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kuiken, is enroute home after serving overseas for some time. Also enroute home is Arnold Kaemingk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Kaemingk. Both have been serving in the Pacific theater.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 19, 1946, p 10
HOME FROM MANILA
Sgt. Arnold Kaemingk arrived at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Kaemingk, on Sunday afternoon following an army career of two years. He served overseas for a year and a half and was stationed in Manila for the past months. He is spending a 19-day leave here and is to report back to Fort Sheridan on the 25th to receive his discharge.
Thirty-three relatives gathered at the Ted Kaemingk home Monday evening to welcome him home. Nobody bogged down in the mud either, though some of the roads were a mess after the excessive rain for the past week.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 10, 1946, p 7
Honorably Discharged
Discharge papers were filed the past month at County Recorder Van Roekel’s office by the following: (All served in the army unless otherwise specified) … Arnold Kaemingk, Sioux Center …
Source: Alton Democrat Dec. 19, 1946, p 4
Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954, Claim
Arnold T. Kaemingk was born on May 2, 1926, at Sioux Center, Iowa, where he was still residing prior to entering the army on October 25, 1944, at Fort Snelling, Minn. He served with Co. D. 145th Infantry, left for overseas duty on March 26, 1945, returned on Sept. 30, 1946, and was honorably discharged on Nov. 27, 1946. His application for bonus pay was filed on May 20, 1949, for which he received $295.00.
Source: ancestry.com
