Ernest Gerritsma’s Sergeant Visits Parents Here
An unexpected pleasure came to Mr. and Mrs. Syne Gerritsma last week when Sergeant Howard of Pipestone, Minnesota stopped here to visit with them enroute to his home following his discharge from the army. Sergeant Howard was Ernest’s sergeant from the time he went overseas until he left New Guinea, a few weeks ago, having contracted malaria.
Howard was wearing several stars and when asked if Ernest had been in action, he replied that Ernest was wearing them too. He also said Ernest was a good shot; that he took the tropical climate exceptionally well and was never known to be sick. Because of this it might be some time before Ernest would be permitted to come back to the states in spite of the fact that he has just spent his fourth Christmas overseas.
Just before Howard left Ernest was moved to another location. He had been on an island in Northern New Guinea. He was engaged in repairing field telephones which was a dangerous job because Jap snipers continue their activities with great persistence day and night.
While some 2000 Japs were killed outright in the original cleaning out, the snipers remain hidden in the jungle. It is necessary for two men to stand guard while the third does the job of repairing communication lines.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 11, 1945, p 1
S/Sgt. Ermest Gerritsma has a slight change of address. He has a new APO number which is 70. The rest of his address remains the same.
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 8, 1945, p 2
S/Sgt. Ernest Gerritsma is now in Luzon, writes from there as follows: Dear Parents and Sisters:…..Jan. 26, ‘45
The policy of our Army is to pay its soldiers in the currency of the country they are stationed in. Day before yesterday I was paid in pesos or Philippine currency. This time there’ll not be much difficulty in learning about the money – a peso is worth exactly fifty American cents and I’m quite sure the bank in Sioux Center would change my pesos for dollars without any question or discount because written on the notes themselves is a guarantee that the money is exchangeable for the legal tender of the United States of the equivalent value.
Incidentally the standard Filippino working wage is a peso per day, although this seems a small amount to us the standard of living seems to have been surprisingly high judging from the modern conveniences which are still in evidence – that is, before the war. The Japanese have their own kind of scorched-earth policy, not exactly like that practiced in Europe, perhaps, but it has about the same effect.
Immediately after occupation all medical stores and supplies were seized for the use of the Jap army to mention just one item which was commandeered either at once or eventually through three years of occupation. The Japs are well-known for the meager equipment and supplies they have and consequently the looting never stopped until every article which had any value at all was stripped from the civilians, if they felt so inclined furniture was chopped up for firewood and instead of building garrisons as we do they billeted themselves in private homes and drove the owners out. It has been claimed that this policy was designed to kill off the population after which the Japs would have the country for themselves, we find it hard to believe that such mass murder in our civilized world is still contemplated but truth is that people haven’t changed essentially since the Dark Ages. German Generals had calmly written about and explained this very plan long before the beginning of this present war. Perhaps you wonder why I have no better stationery. I have but can’t very well use it, my whole office is outside and consequently exposed to the wind which raises hob with lightweight sheets.
This paper is taken from a drawing book for grade school pupils, this little book plus a few others I picked up in a warehouse where hardware was kept (U. S. made) along with such items as kerosene lamp chimneys, electrical light fixtures, paint, nails, etc.
Sorry I kept you waiting for this letter, for the past few weeks I’ve been fairly busy, so far no Filippino has offered his services as a valet, and it would be worth a few pesos now to have at least my clothes washed. A half-dozen Filippinos were watching me comb my hair this morning, by way of conversation the spokesman for the group wished to attract my attention with a nice compliment. “You are a very handsome boy”, he said, I know better and didn’t feel flattered but we had a pleasant conversation just the same. He had take part in the fighting on Bataan three years ago; he was called to active service in Dec. ’41 and when the American army surrendered he went back to his family. Your Christmas packages arrived today, magazines, toilet goods and pocket knife are certainly appreciated, strange that second class mail does come and no first-class whatsoever. General MacArthur has publicly announced the names of American army units on Luzon according to information given me I am permitted to say that I’m with the 158 R. C. T. (Regimental Combat Team).
Syne hasn’t written me in a long while and it's his turn to write. Does he still count on going home in the near future? I hope to be with you again early this summer. Lovingly, Ernest
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 15, 1945, p 2
Ernest Gerritsma On Way Home
Staff Sgt, Ernest Gerritsma is on his way home according to word received by his parents from Tommy Swiep of Hull who has been with Ernest for nearly all of the time while overseas, and they are expecting him to arrive sometime next week or soon after that.
Ernest who was one of the first Sioux Center boys to leave for the service left home in February of 1940 and after seven months of training at Fort Ord, Calif. He had a furlough and was sent overseas in Nov. of 1941. He has been in Australia, New Guinea, East Indies and now for some time in the Philippine Islands.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 22, 1945, p 1
ERNEST GERRITSMA HOME AFTER FORTY-TWO MONTHS OVERSEAS
Served in Asiatic and Philippine Theaters (photo)
Ernest Gerritsma, first Sioux Center draftee in World War II conscription program, returned to his home here this week after an absence of three and a half years overseas in the Asiatic theater. Always a perceptive observer and a faithful correspondent, Ernest has kept his family and friends very well posted during his absence. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Syne Gerritsma, were very generous in permitting the News to publish much of the correspondence, so that the public had an opportunity of learning many of the experiences of a United States soldier who was engaged either directly or indirectly in fighting the Japanese.
Leaving the states in September, 1941, his ship stopped at Pearl Harbor just a week before the Japs made their sneak attack. He remembers the frenzied preparations that were then being made. The long journey to Australia was climaxed by the jubilant welcome given to the American soldiers by the Australians. It was incidentally the first time American soldiers had landed there and was an historic occasion.
After spending some eighteen months in Australia, he moved on to the New Guinea area where they encountered Japs on many occasions. During the latter period Ernest was a member of a Tornado Task force. He recalls some of the most difficult fighting his unit engaged in took place at Noemfoor Island, where they made an outstanding beach landing, without losing a man. Casualties there were listed in a ratio of 40 to 1.
Continuing on toward the Philippines more recent action in Lingayen Gulf, and Luzon brought him to the long awaited moment when he could return homeward once more. Ernest will be home a little more than three weeks and then will report at Jefferson Barracks to await his future orders. Over and above the disillusion and frustration every serviceman experiences in varying degrees, Ernest has considered his army life as a course of education from which he has acquired priceless knowledge and experience.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 5, 1945, p 1, 6
Overseas Servicemen, 4 Veterans at Legion Meeting
Monday night’s American Legion meeting was a rate occasion for the members of the local James Doornink post since guests of honor included six men who have served overseas and are now home on leaves, and four veterans who have been discharged from the service.
Included in the former group were Ernest Gerritsma, Peter Moerman, Ed Vander Weide, Arie Verrips, Lawrence Bleeker, and Lester Van Muyden. In the veterans group were Bob Malisch, Jake Boeyink, Arie Oliver and Wilbert Kleene.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 12, 1945, p 1
Excerpt from article on Pfc. Dick Vander Hoef ….. He and Ernest Gerritsma came home on the same boat.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 12, 1945, p 2
Furlough Calendar Name, Address and Expiration Date of Furlough ….. Ernest Gerritsma Sioux Center – 4-26-45 ….. Servicemen, parents and relatives are urged to register the furlough dates of service men so that others may know who is home. Phone the information to 174, or send it to the Capital. With the public’s cooperation, this column can be kept up to date and correct.
Source: Sioux County Capital Apr. 12, 1945, p 1
Returned Veteran Weds
Last Thursday evening, a lovely wedding took place at the First Christian Reformed Church when Miss Marie Ten Harmsel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Ten Harmsel, became the bride of Staff Sergeant Ernest J. Gerritsma, son of Mr. and Mrs. Syne Gerritsma.
He has just returned home after forty months of service in the southwest Pacific. ….. Sgt. Gerritsma will report for duty at Hot Springs, Arkansas April 24, and Mrs. Gerritsma will complete her term of teaching at the Rock Valley Christian School.
Source: Sioux County Capital Apr. 19, 1945, p 3
A very interesting meeting was held at the First Christian Reformed Church Sunday evening. Sy Hogan was the guest speaker, and two veterans home on furlough, Ernest Gerritsma and Eddie Vander Weide, both gave talks on their experiences while overseas.
Source: Sioux County Capital Apr. 19, 1945, p 6
S/Sgt. Ernest J. Gerritsma 37078142 Arlington Hotel, Room No. 328 AG & SF Redistribution Station Hot Springs, Arkansas April 27, 1945
Dear parents and sisters: This is the first uncensored letter I write to you in nearly three and a half years, this and many other privileges I now have again makes me feel like a prisoner set free. In the first place this is a redistribution station where men from overseas are reclassified (if necessary) and reassigned to some other unit within the United States. Each day for a week I have one or two appointments lasting an hour or two apiece. This afternoon, e.g. I attended a Station Orientation lecture or talk, here, the C.O. and a few other officers tell you what this set-up is for, who to see for various things and how to behave. If you have any legal problems either in or out of the army these will be attended to and as you know a soldier generally receives benefit of the doubt these days; I’ll have to see this man about income tax. I could easily write a few paragraphs about my personal income tax problem while in the employ of the government as a soldier, however, the memory of seeing Alcatraz island the first time is still vivid (not to mention the second) as well as the army’s own Alcatraz at Angel Island – it’s not the least difficult to decide between the lesser of two evils. At 9:00 tomorrow morning I have a personnel interview for the purpose of correcting any irregularity in the service record, collecting back-pay, travelling expenses, etc. Monday at 9:00 A.M. is for the medical examination, true enough I feel healthy and well but should anything be wrong which is not immediately apparent it’s nice to know. The next day at nine is for classification – 1A, 2B or….4F – if the doctors decide you are not physically fit you will not be assigned to a combat unit such as infantry or artillery. In some ways I’d like to have the same job as before because I know it quite thoroughly but on the other hand it is positively one of the most difficult in Field Artillery and such an organization being a combat unit I don’t relish any more silly and bone-wracking maneuvers, after all, I’ve been in the game for quite some time and it’s not amusing anymore. The one thing I look forward to a great lot like an apple just beyond reach is a discharge from the army. According to an announcement in the papers there is a possibility that men with four and five years service will be discharged (a few perhaps) beginning this summer. Naturally all eligible soldiers are quick to ask for further information and the answer they receive here is that nothing official has been given to the departments responsible for releasing men, obviously they can’t move a hand without official authorization – however it is something to hope for. There’s also a rumor to the effect that Congress passed a law excusing all men with 40 months overseas duty from further duty overseas, if true it is a great consolation because I’ve seen plenty of this world for the time being. Yes folks, as I mentioned also to Ida things are moving fast these days, they did for Marie and I and they do in general, a few months time can mean a radical change in the complexion. Possibly I’ll stay here for a total of 14 days and meanwhile you may write to me at the address indicated above. I hope the reports may be more favorable than they have been in a good while. Thanks especially folks for the royal treatment you gave me during the furlough – much better than a thousand Arlington Hotels. Lovingly from your son and “best brother”, Ernest
Source: Sioux Center News May 3, 1945, p 2
Here is the new address of: Ernest J Gerritsma 37078142 A.S.F.T.C. (Sig. Sec.) Camp Crowder, Missouri
Source: Sioux Center News May 17, 1945, p 10
Sioux Center Service Men Resume Civilian Activities
RETURN TO BUSINESSES, FARMS AND COLLEGES
The following list includes some of the Sioux Center service men who have been discharged and have found a place for themselves again in the civilian world after being absent for a long period of time while in the service of our country.
….. Ernest Gerritsma is working as carpenter with Ernest Mulder. He was married to Marie Ten Harmsel the past summer and they are making their home in the house where Miss Gertrude Jensen formerly lived. …..
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 29, 1945, p 1
Iowa, U.S., WWII Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954, Claim No.139700
Ernest J. Gerritsma, SN 37078142, was born Jan. 13, 1917, at Sioux Center, Iowa, where he resided prior to entering the army on Feb. 23, 1941, at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He served with the Headquarters Battery 147th Field Artillery Bn., departed for foreign duty on Nov. 22, 1941, and returned on March 25, 1945.
He was honorably discharged on July 24, 1945. His application for bonus compensation was filed on May 27, 1949, for which he received $500.00.
Source: ancestry.com
