Bernice and Arlene Kroon and Wilbur Vos took Billy Kroon and Henry Baker to Sioux City on Tuesday. The boys went on to Des Moines where they received their examinations for enlistment in the navy.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 10, 1942, p 4
Wm. J. Kroon (Billy) is now located at Great Lakes for his boot training and met Arie Verrips who is also there. Billy’s address: Wm. J. Kroon, Co. 1865, U.S.N.T.S., Great Lakes, Ill. …
Arie Verrips and Billy Kroon met at the Great Lakes Naval training school the past week. Arie was determined to find someone he knew so went into the barracks and called, “Is there anyone here from Iowa” and was rather surprised to have Billy come running out. The boys spent the evening together and made plans for future visits.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 24, 1942, p 3
Classification of 200 Sioux County Men
BOARD PUBLISHES DETAILED MINUTES
Minutes of the Sioux County Local Board meeting on Dec. 16, 1942, relating the classification of the following men: … Class 1-C … William J. Kroon, Sioux Center …
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 24, 1942, p 1 & 6
Civic Club Banquet Draws Large Crowd
The Civic Club banquet which was held at the Central Reformed Church basement Tuesday evening can go on record as a success. A very tasty and satisfying meal was served by the members of the Girls League of the Central Reformed Church to 91 guests, after which an interesting program was given with Maurice Te Paske as master of ceremonies, and Henry Te Paske of Orange City as guest speaker.
Other numbers on the program included a solo by Eileen Vander Ploeg and two numbers by the high school girl sextette. Billy Kroon, who arrived home from the navy on Tuesday morning, also gave a brief talk. The meeting was begun and ended by group singing under direction of Mr. Peter B. Mouw with Henry Te Paske at the piano.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 18, 1943, p 10
22 Boys In Armed Forces From 7 Local Families
Six Sioux Center families have three boys in the U. S. Armed Forces, and one family has four boys serving their country.
Mr. and Mrs. Arie Franken have son Joe in the navy, Henry and Everette in the army. Joe enlisted in the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor and has been in action in the Solomons.
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Schiebout have three sons in the army, Abe, Joe, and Ferdinand.
Mr. and Mrs. John Vogel have three sons in the army, Harry, LeRoy, and William.
Lester, Peter and Marvin Van Muyden, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Case Van Muyden are all in the army. Lester has been overseas for many months, located in Australia.
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Mouw have two sons in the army, Lawrence and Steven, and Harold is in the navy.
Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit H. Franken have three sons in the army, Louis, Dries and Everett.
The John Kroon family is represented by four sons in the service, three of whom are overseas. Richard and Bert are in the army, now in North Africa, Henry John is on the sea, a member of the U. S. Navy, and Billy is still at Gt. Lakes Navy Station.
There are undoubtedly more families who have three sons in the service and the News would be pleased to know them.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 18, 1943, p 10
Billy Kroon is now enrolled in the Navy’s school for electricians at Kentucky State Teachers College at Morehead, Ky. His new address is: Wm. J. Kroon S 2-c Section 21 A. U.S.N.T.S. Morehead, Ky.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 18, 1943, p 8
Billy Kroon graduated from electrical school at Morehead, Ky. last week Saturday. He doesn’t know where he will go from there, but his new address will be published as soon as it is received here.
Source: Sioux Center News July 1, 1943, p 2
Billy Kroon Promoted
Finishing in the upper third of his class William John Kroon, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kroon, Sioux Center, Iowa, was promoted to the petty officer rating of electrician’s mate, third class, upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Training School for electricians on the campus of Morehead State Teachers college, Morehead, Ky. last week. He now will be assigned to duty with the fleet or at a shore station. The Bluejacket, who was selected for this special trading upon the basis of a series of aptitude tests taken during recruit training, has received 16 weeks of instruction in mathematics, electrical theory and laboratory, and wiring.
Source: Sioux Center News July 8, 1943, p 8
Here is Billy Kroon’s new address which has changed. His promotion is announced elsewhere in the column. W. J. Kroon E.M. 3-c, Everglades Barracks, Room 605, Miami, Florida.
Source: Sioux Center News July 8, 1943, p 8
William J. Kroon EM 3-c, U.S.S. Blessman, D.C. 69, c.o. Postmaster, New York, New York.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 30, 1943, p 2
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
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
Sailor Billy Kroon EM 2-c arrived in Sioux City Wednesday on special leave to come and see his mother who is ill. He has been on sea duty and his family had quite a time locating him as they had received no mail from him for several weeks.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 23, 1943, p 12
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 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
Billy Kroon left the first of this week to return to his duties with the Navy after spending his two week leave here. Henry John Kroon received an extension on his twenty-day convalescent leave and can stay home until next week.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 6, 1944, p 2
Billy Kroon returned to his duties with the U.S. Navy leaving from Hawarden on Monday after spending a week’s furlough with his family here.
Source: Sioux Center News April 6, 1944, p 8
Billy Kroon left the States with a convoy again on July 1st, and was also recently promoted from 2/c to Electrician’s mate, first class.
Source: Sioux Center News July 13, 1944, p 2
COMMUNITY WELCOME FOR TWO SAILORS NEXT WEEK
A Community Welcome is scheduled for Marvin (Mouw) and Billy Kroon who is expected home this week. The exact date of the meeting will be published in next week’s News, as it will quite likely be next Thursday or Friday evening.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 31, 1944, p 10
COMMUNITY WELCOME TONIGHT FOR FOUR OVERSEAS VETERANS THURSDAY EVENING, TOWN HALL, SEPT. 7, 8 P.M.
Four servicemen who have returned from overseas fighting areas will be community guests of honor at the Town Hall this week Thursday evening when the public will gather to welcome them home and hear their experiences.
The four men now home from war theaters are Billy Kroon, Navy; Captain James Halverson, Army Air Corps; Marvin Mouw, Navy, and Lt. Vernon Mouw, Navy Air Corps. John Van Aller of the Marines is also home and may be present to speak of his work in the medical corps.
Billy Kroon and Marvin Mouw have covered thousands of miles of ocean serving on U.S. Destroyers, convoying and in invasion activities. Captain Halverson has completed sixty bombing missions in the European Area, with Berlin as one of his targets. He has become familiar with the landmarks of Holland in the course of his missions. Lt. Vernon Mouw flies a navy scouter plane in hunting enemy submarines, and has just returned from a trip of several weeks’ duration on an aircraft carrier. Between the four of them, they will have a good deal of varied information covering both Army and Navy activities in this war and the evening should be one that everyone will enjoy. The Business Girls will serve lunch in the basement after the program. Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 7, 1944, p 1 E.M. 1/c Billy Kroon left again on Friday afternoon to report to New York following a 30-day leave which was spent at the home of his father, Mr. John Kroon and family here.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 5, 1944, p 10
Billy Kroon has now received an outgoing address: c/o Fleet Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif. The complete address is at the News office.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 23, 1944, p 10
Henry and Billy Kroon are both aboard destroyers somewhere in the neighborhood of Leyte Island and are keeping a sharp eye out for each other. Bernard Kroon has this new address: Bernard Kroon S 2/c 3223304, Const. Bn. Repl. Depot, Camp Parks, Shoemaker, California.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 11, 1945, p 9
Furloughs Name, Address, and Expiration Date of Furlough … W. J. Kroon Sioux Center 5-25-45 …
Source: Sioux County Capital May 17, 1945, p 1
E.M. 1/c William Kroon left again on Tuesday afternoon after enjoying a 30-day leave at home, while his ship was in port for repairs. He reports back at San Francisco, Calif. for further orders.
Source: Sioux Center News May 24, 1945, p 8
Billy Kroon Discharged (photo) BILLY KROON
Billy Kroon, son of John Kroon of Sioux Center, arrived home New Years day with his discharge from the U.S. Navy after serving a little over three years.
He has three battle stars, having served on a Destroyer transport in both the Atlantic and Pacific War Theaters. He was an electrician’s mate, first class.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 3, 1946, p 1
William John “Bill” Kroon was born Nov. 30, 1921 to John and Wilhelmina “Minnie” Scholten Kroon. He died Aug. 13, 2003 and is buried in Nassau Township Cemetery, Alton, IA. Bill served with the U.S. Navy in World War II.
Source: ancestry.com
