LIST OF SIOUX CENTER AND MAURICE NAMES ACCORDING TO REGISTRATION
There were 2854 men between the ages of 21 and 36 registered in Sioux county. They have all been given a number now. We are publishing below only the numbers of men with the addresses of Sioux Center and Maurice. You can see that a complete list would require three solid pages. If your name is on this list, jot it down on your registration card so that you can check it against the drafted numbers:
… 328 Bert S. Kroon …
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 31, 1940, p 1
Bert Kroon joined the National Guard Monday evening. This makes four Sioux Center boys who will leave for Louisiana the 3rd of January.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 5, 1940, p 5
Five Boys Called By Guard For Feb. 10
The LeMars company of the National Guard will be inducted into the U.S. army on February 10 and will leave on or about February 25 for camp Claiborne, Louisiana.
Five Sioux Center boys are members of this company: Ted and Garrit Vanden Berg, Bert Kroon, Bud Bodnar, Bub Bierma.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 30, 1941, p 1
Local Guard Unit Inducted Into Federal Service Monday, Feb. 10
Will Leave For Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, This Month
Four commissioned officers and eighty-nine enlisted men of company K. 133rd Infantry, were mustered into federal service at the Le Mars armory at 7 o’clock Monday morning and ate their first army meal at the Eagles Club dining room where they sat down to a breakfast prepared by the company cook. Orders to mobilize at that hour were issued some time ago and every man in the company was on hand at the appointed time. A half dozen who tried to enlist Sunday were turned down because orders were no men were to be accepted later than 24 hours before mobilization.
The company will receive its final physical check Wednesday when a Le Mars health unit is present, will give the men their final physical checkup. As previous physical examinations have been complete, it is not anticipated any of these will fail to pass this final test. Captain Matt Levins has no official information as to when the men will leave for camp Claiborne, Louisiana, where they are to take their training, but newspaper reports say it will be between February 20 and 25.
Meantime the men will receive instructions and be drilled for eight hours a day at the armory and all of those who do not live in Le Mars will sleep there. Men who live in Le Mars can sleep at home so long as they report for duty at 7:00 each morning. All meals will be served so long as they remain in Le Mars at the Eagles Club dining room.
Of the 93 officers and men about half gave Le Mars addresses, 26 got their mail at other towns in Plymouth County and of the 19 who gave out-of-county addresses a majority are former members of the company now living elsewhere.
The company will report at camp Claiborne with its present quota of 89 men if they all pass the final medical test, and will then probably be filled out to war strength with draftees. It is anticipated some of the equipment will also be supplied after they reach camp.
Following is the personnel of the company:
… Privates - …, Bert Kroon, Sioux Center, …
Source: Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel Feb. 11, 1941, p 1 & 4
Co. K Leaves LeMars Feb. 27
Company K received their sailing orders this week and now know they will leave LeMars at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 27, and are scheduled to arrive at camp Claiborne, Louisiana, at 10 a.m. March 1. On the same train will be company I of Sheldon and company L of Sioux City, the three companies making up the third battalion of the 133rd infantry. There will be between 250 and 309 men on the train which proceeds south by way of Omaha.
Five Sioux Center boys are members of company K. They are: Garrit and Ted Vanden Berg, Bert Kroon, Bud Bodnar and Bub Bierma.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 20, 1941, p 10
Sioux Center Boys Leave Thursday For The South
Company K, 133rd Infantry, will leave for Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, at 3:30 Thursday afternoon, February 27. The special train which will carry company K of LeMars and units from Sheldon and Sioux City is due at camp Claiborne at 10:00 Saturday morning. There will be four officers and 84 men with the company when it leaves LeMars Thursday afternoon and it will be expanded to full strength after its training begins at camp.
Five Sioux Center boys are members of company K. They are Teddy and Garrit Vander Berg, Bud Bodnar, Bub Bierma, and Bert Kroon.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 27, 1941, p 1
More K. Co. Men Win Promotions
By Sgt. Kenneth Hoffman
Dear Folks: Then the trainees came! No longer is K company the small body of militia that was ordered into the active service of the United States, it has now become a large unit that will represent one of the minor fighting forces of the new defense program. Thursday morning about 11 o'clock (illegible #) men who were selected from the civilian population to service the armed forces of the United States left the train that had brought them from their home stations and were assigned to the units that will train and instruct them in the art of warfare; 87 of these men were assigned to K company, raising the strength of this unit to 171 men. … Situation is “Tents” The area looks strangely different from what it did a few days ago. Now whenever you walk around the area there is always activity. Men running up and down the boardwalks, playing catch in the company street, washing clothes outside of their tents, and a thousand and one other things. At night all of the tents are aglow with lights. Previously all you would see would be a tent scattered here and there making a gigantic checkerboard with their golden hue, but now a very symmetric picture is formed. The selectees seem to be having little difficulty In Ig themselves adjusted. Many of them have outfits from their home stations somewhere in camp and here in the office we spent most of the nights going through the roster to see if we had a Pvt. Jones or a Pvt. Doe for some glum individual who appeared to be looking for his only friend. …
Tomorrow they will begin their training. The first day that they were here Col. Rouse, commanding officer of the 133rd infantry told them that they should get ready because they were due for a little hard work. Well, tomorrow comes the test. We will probably see a lot of worn-out men by tomorrow night. …
Promotions List
Since the arrival of all of the new men it means that there will have to be a lot of men promoted to serve as their leaders. The following promotions go into effect the 1st of May: … To be Privates 1st Class: …, Bert Kroon, … Well, that is about all that I can think of for now so till tomorrow.
Source: Le Mars Globe Post May 1, 1941, p 1 & 7
Here’s How The K. Co. Boys Did At Target Practice
They Find “Rapid Fire” Is Really Rapid (By Sgt. Kenneth Hoffmann)
May 24, 1941 Dear Folks: The last time that I wrote to you I told you that I would give you the results of our company’s firing on the range. However, before I give you these results I think that I had better tell you a little bit about this all important phase of soldiers training. When a soldier goes out to the range for the first time he is assigned a weapon that he will carry or operate during the rest of his period in the army. Since the different weapons fire on different types of ranges and courses he is also sent to his appropriate range. There are a number of “courses” that are fired by the soldier. They differ in the type of weapon that is used, the distance that is fired, and the number of shots that each individual is permitted to use. Course “B” is the one at which most of the men of K company did their range work. The weapon used is either the new Garand rifle or the old efficient Springfield. In this course, as in all of the others, there are three phases to the range period. They are the “instruction period”, “practice record fire period” and “record fire period”. In the first of these periods the soldier is taken to the firing line and permitted to get the feel of his weapon and to put the knowledge of long weeks of instruction into practice. A coach is assigned to each man and it is his duty to see that the soldier follows the correct method of firing. When the man has been given final instructions in all of the different positions and has fired all of his shots, the next period begins. In this practice record fire, the man goes through all of the motions of the record fire, but his score isn't put on permanent file. The reason for this period is to get the man accustomed to the routine of firing for record. He has a chance to get accustomed to being pressed, so that when the real time comes he will not get excited and fire at someone else's target or jam his clip in his piece. From this stage the soldier proceeds into the final and most important period. It is at this time that all the shots that he fires are put down on record and he is classed according to the way he performs. A total of 60 shots are fired from the “B” course, which makes it possible to get a score of 300; twelve shots are fired from the three positions, prone, kneeling and standing at slow fire. That means that the man can take as much time as he wants to fire each shot and after each shot the target is marked so that the soldier knows just where his shot went and if it wasn't a perfect shot he can make the proper adjustments. The rest of the course is completed by rapid fire, and it is awful rapid when you get there to fire. You are given two clips of shells, 8 to a clip, and when the targets come up you have just 65 seconds to fire the 8 shells in your piece, load and fire the other eight. In other words, you have to do some fast work to get all of your shots out of the rifle. This is the way that happens when a man goes up to the line to fire rapid fire from standing to prone. At the command of the range commander the soldier walks up to the firing point to which he has been previously assigned. He waits at his assigned place until everything is set. Then the loudspeaker barks, “Load and lock pieces”. At this command he shoves the clip of eight shells into the rifle and snaps the safety on. This accomplished he again waits for the next command. All of the targets, about 100 in all, are down when he steps to the line, but after all of the men have loaded their rifles and are ready, the officer in the pits orders up the red flag. When this flag is taken down the man on the firing point has just 10 seconds before the targets go up and he starts firing. The soldier stands there with his eyes glued on his target when all of a sudden the long roll of targets are flung up into the air and all of the men drop to their belly and start shooting. The tense stillness of the 10 seconds after the flag goes down is broken and what seems to be all hell turned loose. You can hardly hear a single individual shell fired although there isn't a single weapon firing more than one shot at a time. This keeps on for 65 seconds and then everything is as quiet as before, each man waiting tensely for his target to come back up and see what he fired. Soon the targets come back up and the white marker that signifies a bullseye is flashed in front of nearly every target on the line. As the markers come up and down each one of the men who has fired repeats his shots to the scorer, all along the line you can hear “one bull, two bulls, three bulls” and so on until all of the scores have been recorded in the book.
Other Weapons
This is the procedure that goes on until all of the men have completed their course. However, the men with the other weapons have a slightly different procedure but in general they all follow the same procedure. Slow fire, rapid fire, distance, and most of all scores. The course “D” is fired on the thousand inch range. Only small targets are used, and the results are about the same as they would be if they fired the 200-yard or 300-yard course. This is what K company has been doing for the last three weeks that they have been out on the range. Now, although not all of the men have completed their course, this organization is finished on the range, except for the pistol men who will finish the first part of the week, until next fall when the draftees and cadre men will do their firing.
Here are the results of the course B firing. … On the D course, … The automatic rifle sharpshooter, Private 1cl Cecil J. Dunn, Private 1cl Herbert A. Forkenbrock, and Private 1cl Bert Kroon. …
Thank Koenig For Stamps
Many of the fellows in our company want me to say a word of thanks to captain Jacob Koenig, former commanding officer of K company, who has been so kind as to keep them well supplied with stamps. On a number of different occasions, he has sent a large batch of stamps to be used by the men to write home. I wish to let captain Koenig know that he is still well remembered around here for the way that he first organized Fighting K. I know that about once a week some man walks up to my desk and wants to know what captain Koenig is doing these days. I wish that the captain could be here too with us now because I think that he would be just as proud of the company now as he was in the days when he was in command. Well, that is all for now, so till next time.
Source: Le Mars Globe Post May 29, 1941, p 1 & 6 24
Local Boys Serve In Army & Navy
Expect More To Be Drafted Near Future
Twenty-four boys from Sioux Center and near vicinity are now serving in the army and the navy. Some of these boys have been drafted and some have volunteered. More of our boys will be drafted into military service in the near future, and each day it appears that we are drawing nearer to an open war at the side of England.
We publish below a list of the boys with their addresses, with the thought that their friends will write them letters. Bert Kroon Co. K. 133 Inf. 34 Div. Camp Claibourne, La. …
Source: Sioux Center News July 31, 1941, p 3
Bert Kroon who is stationed with the U.S. army at Camp Claiborne, La. called his mother by telephone to greet her, last week.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 21, 1941, p 5
Bert Kroon Co K. 133rd Infantry, 34th Div. Camp Claiborne, La.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 30, 1941, p 4
Bert Kroon arrived home Saturday night from Camp Claiborne, La. for a 15-day furlough. It has been about 10 months since Bert left home to join the U.S. army as he was one of the first group to go. He came home just in time to hunt pheasants.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 20, 1941, p 5
Bert Kroon was the guest of honor at a dinner at Jake Koolbeck home Friday night while home on furlough. Guests included Johnnie Van Oosbree, Cy Heemstra, Bill Kroon, and Jake Boeyink.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 4, 1941, p 4
Bert Kroon left for Camp Claiborne Saturday after a 15-day furlough.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 4, 1941, p 3
Garrett and Theodore Vander Berg have been moved to New Orleans from Camp Claiborne where the army is guarding the shipyards there. Carl R Bierma, Bert Kroon and Bud Bodnar have also been moved from Clairborne to New Orleans and as they are all members of the National Guard they will not be released from duty for furloughs. Carl Bierma wrote to his folks that he was on guard duty around the power plant in New Orleans.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 18, 1941, p 4
P.F.C Bert Kroon Co. K. 133rd Inf. U.S. Army Recreational Area Pontchartrain Beach New Orleans, La.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 18, 1941, p 4
Teddy Vander Berg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Vander Berg, who is home on furlough from the U.S. army, will report back to camp Claiborne about New Year's. Some of the enlisted men who were ordered to New Orleans are being transferred back to Claiborne. Gerrit Vander Berg, his brother, will go back to Claiborne and also Bert Kroon has received notice to return.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 1, 1942, p 8
Bert Kroon and Bud Bodnar also left with their divisions from Claiborne for new posts in the east.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 8, 1942, p 8
Teddy Vander Berg and Harold Mulder were moved last week from Camp Claiborne to New York about 50 miles distant from Fort Dix, New Jersey where Bert Kroon, Bub Bierma and Gerrit Vander Berg were transferred from Claiborne. …
Bert Kroon sends the news home that he has been promoted to a corporal rating. His new address is: Corp. Bert Kroon, Co. K. 33rd Inf. c.o. Postmaster New York City.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 15, 1942, p 8
Gerrit Vanden Berg, Dell Te Paske, Bub Bierma, and Bert Kroon enjoyed a reunion this past week. They are all stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey, even though their address is New York.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 22, 1942, p 8
Bert Kroon has been seeing the sights of New York City. He saw the fight between Joe Louis and Buddy Baer recently and also took in Radio City and saw Fred Waring in person.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 29, 1942, p 8
According to word received the Sioux Center soldiers remain at Fort Dix, New Jersey, with the exception of Dell Te Paske who left some time ago for California. Those who remain at Fort Dix, New Jersey are: Bert Kroon, Gerrit and Teddy Vanden Berg, Bub Bierma, Harold Mulder and Bud Bodnar.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 19, 1942, p 8
Bub Bierma may be the only Sioux Center soldier left at Fort Dix, New Jersey as he is in company M. Harold Mulder, Bud Bodnar, Gerrit Vanden Berg, Teddy Vanden Berg, Bert Kroon, are all members of Company K which has left for unknown destinations.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 26, 1942, p 8
Local Boys Land In Ireland
Carl Bierma and Gerrit Vanden Berg Cablegram Parents
RELATIVES OF SOLDIERS GET NEWS
Carl Bierma, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Bierma of Sioux Center, sent a cablegram home from the United Kingdom which was received here on Friday. According to the length of the trip, Carl may be located in Ireland. The message brought the first news from the group of soldiers who left Fort Dix, New Jersey a few weeks ago.
Among those included in the group were: Gerrit and Teddy Vanden Berg, Bud Bodnar, Harold Mulder and Bert Kroon, all of Sioux Center. On Tuesday Mr. and Mrs. Wm. G. Vanden Berg of Sioux Center received a cablegram from their son, Gerrit and no destination was given. The cable brought home the news that he was OK, and the advice for his parents to send all mail by airmail and no packages as they would not be forwarded. He also stated that he was writing a letter. …
Source: Sioux Center News March 19, 1942, p 1
58 Soldiers From Sioux Center Vicinity
SEND OMITTED NAMES OF MEN IN SERVICE
The American Legion has been sending inspirational letters each month to the soldiers of the Sioux Center vicinity and are anxious to have a complete list of the men in the service. The NEWS has published the names of the men who left to serve their country in the "NEWS ABOUT OUR SOLDIERS" column. Please contact the NEWS if any soldier has been omitted or if the rank is not correct in the list which follows: ..... Corp. Bert Kroon .....
Keep the Sioux Center News informed when your soldier has a promotion in rank, change of address, or just a line about how he is getting along. Little sidelights on the activities of the men under arms are of interest to everyone. Call us anytime and give us a news item on the man who has gone to serve his country in the time of war. The News Reporter cannot contact each one of you every week so your cooperation will be appreciated. Every letter from the soldiers indicate a great deal of pleasure is derived in reading about his fellow "Buddy" and the mutual experiences in the U.S. service.
Source: Sioux Center News March 26, 1942, p 7
Sgt. Bert Kroon, who is located somewhere in Ireland writes to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kroon, that there is a slight change in his address. The correct address reads: Sgt. Bert Kroon, Co. K., 133rd Inf., c.o. Postmaster, New York City, N. Y. APO 34.
Source: Sioux Center News July 2, 1942, p 5
Thirty Young Men From Central Church In Service
The following is the list of boys from Central Reformed Church who are now serving in the armed forces. Their addresses change frequently and P. A. Mouw is keeping an up-to-date list of addresses. Parents are asked to give him changes of addresses as soon as they get them, so the boys may get all the mail that is possible for them to get.
… Sgt. Bert Kroon …
Source: Sioux Center News Jul. 9, 1942, p 4
Bert Kroon, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kroon of Sioux Center, writes to his parents from Ireland where he is stationed that the U.S. army is undergoing heavy maneuvers there. He wondered how much the body could actually stand.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 20, 1942, p 2
2 Years Ago First Men Into National Guard
It is interesting to pause and note as we hurry along with war preparations that it was two years ago in September when some of the first young men from our community drove to LeMars to enlist in the National Guard. Then in January of the same year they actually left for training at camp Claiborne, thus beginning the long series of men who were to follow into the regular army and move from camp to camp.
Included in the first group who later went to camp Claiborne were: …, Bert Kroon, …
Now all these young men are in Ireland, two years later.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 24, 1942, p 2
Bert Kroon wrote to Jake Koolbeck (for whom he worked in happier days) and said he was getting tired of hanging around Ireland and would a lot rather be home lugging beef for Jake. He says they are all anxious to see action. His address: Sgt. Bert Kroon Co. K. 133rd Inf. APO 34, c.o Postmaster New York City, N. Y.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 5, 1942, p 7
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. G. Vander Berg had a letter from their sons in Ireland received here Saturday, mailed Nov. 15. They said they had seen Bert Kroon and Julius Hop as well as Bud Bodnar, which seems to indicate that most of our boys are still there.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 3, 1942, p 8
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Bierma received a brief letter from their son Carl who has been in North Africa. It was the second letter they received since he arrived there, and nine weeks ago since the last letter arrived. This letter, written February 25th stated that Clayton Jansma had broken his arm in a Jeep accident. Also that he had seen the gang including Gary and Teddy Vander Berg and Bert Kroon and that they were O.K.
Source: Sioux Center News March 25, 1943, p 10
Bert Kroon wrote for the first time in several weeks, and his parents and sisters and brothers here are happy to learn that he is well and healthy though he didn't know what date it was. He wrote from “somewhere on the Tunisian front”.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 8, 1943, p 8
The Cop Says … I had a nice letter from Sergeant Bert Kroon, and we are hoping with him that the war may be over soon. That he may soon have his legs again under the table at noon and eat some of his mother's cooked food. And if I get these letters, I must say again what worry we really have, the ones who are staying at home compared with those boys at the front. We have none worth mentioning.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 22, 1943, p 6
SGT. BERT KROON SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN NORTH AFRICA APR. 8 (photo) SGT. BERT KROON
Shortly before midnight Wednesday the John Kroon family received a telegram from the War Department at Washington, D.C. stating the following: “Deeply regret to inform you your son Sergeant Bert Kroon was seriously wounded in action in North Africa area April 8. Reports will be forwarded when received. (signed by the Adjutant General).
ONE OF SIOUX CENTER’S FIRST VOLUNTEERS Bert was among the first group to volunteer for service in the United States Armed Forces, first to go overseas with the contingent that went to Ireland, first to land with the American troops in North Africa. He joined the National Guard in Le Mars in the fall of 1940, was sent to Louisiana in January of 1941 and then went overseas a few months later, spending several months in Ireland and England and then going to the North African front where he has been in the thick of battle for many months now. The community joins the grief-stricken family in the fervent hope that Bert may make a complete recovery, and that his gallant efforts in the defense of his country will not go unrewarded.
FOUR KROON BOYS IN SERVICE
Mr. and Mrs. John Kroon have four sons in the service of their country, three of them on the battlefront. Richard is in England, Henry John is in the Navy and on the sea, and Bert in North Africa. William is in the Navy stationed at present at Moorehead, Ky.
Source: Sioux Center News April 22,, 1943, p 1 24
More Iowans Are Wounded in Two War Theatres …
All Casualties Except One Were from North African Area Washington, D. C. –(UP)- The war department announced Monday the names of 23 Iowa soldiers wounded in action in the European and North African battle areas. One of the men was wounded in the European area and the other 22 were wounded in North Africa. The men include: … Sgt. Bert Kroon, Sioux City. Source: Waterloo Daily Courier May 17, 1943, p 5 Bert Kroon Improving Nicely Another letter dated April 23rd was received by the John Kroon family from their son Bert who was wounded in action on April 8th. He says he is getting along fine and expects to be back on the job again soon. He suffered shrapnel wounds in his right thigh.
Source: Sioux Center News May 20, 1943, p 8
Bert Kroon wrote from North Africa that his wounds were practically all healed and he expected to be dismissed from the hospital very soon.
Source: Sioux Center News June 10, 1943, p 10
The following letter was received by the John Kroon family from the Adjutant General's Office of the War Department in Washington regarding their son Bert who has made a splendid recovery since being wounded in action in the North African area in April.
Following is a copy of the letter: 17 June 1943
Mrs. John Kroon, Sioux Center, Iowa: Dear Mrs. Kroon: I am pleased to inform you that a report dated 15 June 1943, has been received from the North African area, stating that on 6 June your son, Sergeant Bert Kroon was convalescing. Upon receipt of further information concerning him, you will be notified immediately. The message of cheer which you forwarded to this office was transmitted to your son on 9 June. Very truly yours, J. A. Ulio Major General, The Adjutant General
Bert is in a convalescent hospital and writes he has been bathing in the sea but doesn't say where, says he hasn't had the News or many letters for a long time.
Source: Sioux Center News July 1, 1943, p 2
SIOUX COUNTY SERVICEMEN HAVE GOOD MILITARY RECORDS 29 COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OUT OF 325
The News recently made a survey of the Soldier Mailing list and discovered there were a good many officers in the U.S. Fighting Forces representing Sioux Center all over the world. While some of these men are not from Sioux Center proper, they all have some connections here and most of them are known in this territory. This is only a small percentage of Sioux County men, but is a fair cross section of the County. There may be others who are from this territory whose names do not appear on this list, but we are using our mailing list to go by, so those who do not get the News would naturally not appear on this list. However it is interesting to note, the percentage of officers (commissioned or non-commissioned) in a list of over 325 servicemen.
….. 17 Sergeants ….. Bert Kroon …
Source: Sioux Center News July 8, 1943, p 5
Sandpit Park Donations Continue
Have you done your part for the sandpit park? Have you been enjoying the fishing but let someone else pay the bills? The lifeguard is on duty now. Are your children taking advantage of the swimming? Why not do your part and you'll feel better about it.
Contributors this week were: … Bert Kroon. Please notice that Bert Kroon, even though in a hospital in Africa, does not forget the folks back home. Comm.
Source: Sioux Center News July 8, 1943, p 1
Four Kroon Bros. Serving Their Country (Photos) HENRY J. KROON EM 3-c, WM. J. KROON EM 2-c, SGT. BERT KROON, S. SGT RICHARD J. KROON
Pictured here are four sons of Mr. and Mrs. John Kroon who are serving their country overseas and on the sea. All of them are now outside the United States, two in the army and two in the navy.
Bert, now a Sergeant in the Infantry, was the first son to enter the service. He left in the fall of 1940 enlisting at LeMars and taking his training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. He left the states in February, 1942 landing in Ireland where he spent the ensuing ten months. In December of that year he went to North Africa where he took part in the Tunisian Campaign. He was wounded in action in April 1943, and after five months in the hospital went back into active service Sept. 1st. He was awarded the medal of the Purple Heart for Military Merit.
Richard enlisted in the service in June, 1941, is a member of the air corps ground crew. He took all his training in California camps. He married Geraldine Arendsen in January, 1942, and in November of that year he sailed for England where he has been stationed ever since. Their daughter, Jacqueline Tana, was born May 27th of this year, and Richard eagerly looks forward to meeting her for the first time.
Henry John “Tubby” entered the Navy September 15th, 1941, and has been on sea duty for over a year, in battle action several times. At present he is in the hospital on an island where he has had an operation on the base of his spine. He is getting along very well, got a radio and enjoyed listening to the World Series.
William J. “Billy” went into the Navy December 8th, 1942, and after completing his boot training at Great Lakes, was sent to State Teachers at Kentucky where he received his rating. He has just recently been promoted to Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class. He went to Florida and then to Boston and the first week in October left the states aboard a destroyer escort for his first sea duty.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 21, 1943, p 2
LOCAL BOYS IN ITALY
Bert Kroon’s letter, the first in seven weeks, arrived last week and he says he is back in combat again. He saw Gary and Ted Vander Berg recently. And Teddy also wrote home that he had seen Bert and Gary. Harold Mulder is also undoubtedly in Italy.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 11, 1943, p 2
Bert Kroon Killed In Action
Bert Kroon of Sioux Center, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kroon was killed in action in Italy, Nov. 4, according to a message from the War Department received by the parents Wednesday, Nov. 24. Previously he had suffered injuries in North Africa but had gone back into action.
The young man, who was in his early twenties, has three other brothers in the service. The Kroons reside on a small acreage in north Sioux Center.
Source: Sioux County Capital Nov. 25, 1943, p 1
Sgt. Bert Kroon Killed In Action On Italian Battle Front, Nov. 4 (photo) TELEGRAM THE SECRETARY OF WAR DESIRES ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEP REGRET THAT YOUR SON SGT. BERT KROON WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN ITALY ON NOVEMBER 4. LETTER FOLLOWS. SIGNED, THE ADJ. GENERAL
Message Received By Parents Nov. 24 Sergeant Bert Kroon, 26, one of the four sons of Mr. and Mrs. John Kroon in the service of their country, was killed in action on the Italian front on November the 4th, according to a message received from the War Department by the family last Wednesday, November 24th.
WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION LAST MAY – RECEIVED PURPLE HEART MEDAL
This message, except for its tragic finality, is much like one received by the family last may when Bert was wounded in action during the Tunisian campaign. It was about two weeks after the notice of his injury that word was received from him personally, assuring the family that he was getting along splendidly and they shouldn't worry. He received the Purple Heart Medal for meritorious action shortly after his injury, and sent the medal to his mother. He did not go back into combat until September, and then it was to join his buddies right up to the front again, this time in Italy. The last letter received from him was written on October 28th when he and Gary Vander Berg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. G. Vander Berg, had had a brief respite from frontline activity, and were able to go and see Teddy Vander Berg who works in the company office. Teddy has been the official scribe for himself, his brother Gary, and also for Bert, since the latter two were always too busy at the front to have much time to write. Bert usually managed to relay his important information to his parents in this manner, although his mother did have a letter he wrote in a foxhole where he had spent three grueling hours. It is obvious that he was engaged in considerable close-range fighting for Teddy mentions their individual records of fighting more than once in giving an account of their activities.
MOTHER HOME FROM HOSPITAL
Mrs. John Kroon arrived home from Rochester, Minn. where she had submitted to surgery and treatment, on the day the message arrived here. Mrs. Kroon has been suffering from a liver ailment and has spent a great deal of time right down in bed since the latter part of October, and will be there for some time.
FOUR SONS IN SERVICE
Four sons from the Kroon family have been in the service during this war, and the three remaining are Richard who is in the Air Corps in England, Henry John and Billy who are in the Navy. Henry John has been in the hospital but is at present being moved and Billy is on the sea aboard a destroyer.
OBITUARY
Bert Kroon was born August 12, 1917, in Sioux Center. He attended grade and high school here graduating from the local high school. Following his graduation he worked around here most of the time, just previous to his enlistment being employed at Koolbeck’s Meat Market. He enlisted early in the fall of 1940 and trained at LeMars with Ted and Gary Vander Berg, Bud Bodnar and Carl Bierma, in the LeMars company of the National Guard. They were inducted into the U.S. Army on February 10th, 1941, and went to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana for their real army training on February 25th, 1941. February of the following year found the boys in North Ireland where they were stationed for several months, then in England and from there they journeyed to North Africa where they took part in the Tunisian Campaign. After a few months lull, they moved with their company into Italy where the going is really tough even in the best spots. The community joins the Kroon family in mourning the loss of a native son who saw his duty and chose to perform it commendably and honorably in the service of his country. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Kroon, five brothers, Richard, Henry John, William, Bernard and Stanton, and three sisters, Eda, Trudy and Norma all of whom are at home, except the three boys in the service. One brother, also named Bert, died in infancy.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 2, 1943, p 1
Four Killed in Action Washington –(AP)- Names of four Iowans killed in action in the European and Mediterranean areas were announced Wednesday by the war department. S/Sgt. George W. Mercer. Muscatine, was killed in the European area. Pfc. Lawrence E. Beenblossom, Des Moines; Sgt. Bert Kroon, Sioux Center; and Pfc. Merl M. Welty, Winterset, were killed in the Mediterranean area.
Source: Burlington Hawk Eye Gazette Dec. 15, 1943, p 1
MEMORIAL SERVICES TO BE HELD FOR SGT. BERT KROON ON DEC. 28
Business Places To Close From 1 to 3 P.M.
The community will honor the memory of Sergeant Bert Kroon, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kroon, at memorial services to be held in Central Reformed Church on next Tuesday, December 28 at 1:30 o'clock. Bert was killed in action on the Italian front November 4. Because of Mrs. Kroon’s illness and the difficulty in locating the two boys who are in the navy the plans for the services were not completed until this week when both Henry John and Billy came home. Richard Kroon will not be able to come home as he is stationed in England, with the Army Air Corps. Stores will be closed from 1:00 until 3 o’clock during the services. The American Legion will attend services in a body with the color guard in attendance. Rev. Meengs will officiate. All Legion members and men in the service home on furlough are asked to meet in the basement of Central Ref. Church at 1:15 P.M. Tuesday.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 23, 1943, p 1
Loses Life Same Day Bert Kroon Was Killed
1st Sgt/ Robert Burns, brother of Mrs. C. L. Peterson, formerly of Sioux Center, died Nov. 6th of wounds received in action Nov. 4th in the Italian war area. The day he received his fatal wounds is the same day that Bert Kroon gave his life. As both boys were from Co. K LeMars, it is presumed that they were involved in the same offensive action. …
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 30, 1943, p 1
Posthumous Award For Bert Kroon
The following letter was received by the Kroon family last week from the Secretary of War at Washington. It was accompanied by a Purple Heart on which Bert's name was engraved. It is similar to the one he was awarded for meritorious action in the Tunisian campaign except for the lapel ribbon. “Dear Mr. Kroon: you will shortly receive the Purple Heart medal which has been posthumously awarded by direction of the President to your son, Sergeant Bert Kroon, Infantry. It is sent as a tangible expression of the country's gratitude for his gallantry and devotion. It is sent to you, as well, with my deepest personal sympathy for your bereavement. The loss of a loved one is beyond man's repairing, and the medal is of slight value; not so, however, the message it carries. We are all comrades in arms in this battle for our country, and those who have gone are not, and never will be, forgotten by those of us who remain. I hope you will accept the medal in evidence of such remembrance. Sincerely yours, Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War.”
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 3, 1944, p 12
(Excerpt from article about Carl Beirma’s return home) He did see Bert Kroon after he was hit the first time in Tunisia, and later talked to one of the boys who was with Bert when he was killed. The latter said that the same shell that took Bert's life also killed Bob Burns, brother-in-law of former Coach Peterson. That (Bert’s injury in Africa) was in the Battle of Fondouk Pass in Tunisia on April 8, 1943. …
Source: Sioux Center News May 25, 1944, p 1
Bert Kroon was born Aug. 12, 1917 to John and Wilhelmina Sophia “Minnie” Scholten Kroon. He died Nov. 4, 1943 and is buried in Sicily-Rome Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy and has a cenotaph in Memory Gardens Sioux Center Cemetery, Sioux Center, IA.
Sgt. Kroon served in World War II with the U.S. Army 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division and was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.
Source: ancestry.com
