Two Brothers In Army (photos)
PFC. Gerrit Postma and Pvt. Martin Postma
An example of brothers in the United States Army is that of Pfc. Gerrit Postma and Pvt. Martin Postma. Both are located in western states at present. Gerrit is in Company A, 10th Q. M. Bn., at Camp Hale, Colorado, and Martin is in Battery B, 54th Field Artillery Training Bn., Bldng. 8115, at Camp Roberts, Calif. The two are fine looking soldiers.
Source: Rock Valley Bee April 30, 1943, p 1
Wins Silver Star (photo) Sgt. Martin Postma
Sgt. Martin Postma, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Postma, wrote his folks that he is sending them the Silver Star. Martin didn't say for what particular action he was receiving the medal, but the story will probably come out later. He left for service in December, and it was a year ago last November that his folks received word that he had arrived safely overseas. Now he is with the Field Artillery somewhere in France. The Silver Star is given by the Army for exceptional gallantry in action, and is next to the Distinguished Service Cross.
Martin’s brother T-5 Gerritt Postma with the Quartermaster Truck Co. has a change of address and is evidently leaving for overseas again having been back in the states from Kiska for some time.
Source: Rock Valley Bee Sept. 8, 1944, p 1
Martin Postma is now in Belgium according to word received by his parents here. He has been in a hospital in France for some time. His brother Gerritt Postma has been transferred from New Guinea to the Philippines.
Source: Sioux County Capital Dec. 21, 1944, p 7 …
MARTIN POSTMA WOUNDED AGAIN AT FRONT
Sgt. Martin Postma, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Postma, is now in a hospital in England. He had been released from the hospital not long ago, and had returned to the front in Germany serving there two days, when he was wounded again. He wrote home that he was hit in the chest November 26, but not further details are known. He had been in Germany just a week. Martin holds the Silver Star, medal awarded for gallantry in action.
His brother Gerrit is serving in the Philippines with the Quartermaster Corps, and another brother Lawrence expects to leave for the service soon. Their father farms a half section of land, and is very shortly going to be up against the tight help situation. Here’s one family more than doing its share in this war effort.
Source: Rock Valley Bee, December 29, 1944
Rock Valley:
Lawrence Postma arrived home Friday morning from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station at Chicago for a leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Postma, after having completed his boot training. He is the third son to be in service: Martin Postma with the army in Europe and Gerrit Postma in the South Pacific region.
Source: Alton Democrat, April 19, 1945
Martin Postma was born Feb. 27, 1921 to Richard and Cora VandeVegte Postma.He died Jan. 25, 2001 and is buried in Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley, IA.
Sgt. Postma served in World War II with the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Company L on Omaha Beach on D-Day.
Sources: ancestry.com; americandday.org
