Mrs Elizabeth Van Diepen of Boyden received a telegram from the war department last Friday that her son, Sietsa "Sparky' Van Diepen had been "seriously wounded in active combat in the North Africa Area."
Sietsa is a member of Sheldon's Co. I and left here with the company.
His brother, James, was also a member of Co. I, but as he was injured in an accident while the company was stationed at Camp Claiborne, La, he did not get out of the hospital until his company had left. He is not stationed in England.
Another brother, Thomas, is stationed with a ground crew in Texas.
Two other brothers were given medical deferment and there is a younger brother at home. There are also three sisters. The father died last year.
Source: The Boyden Reporter (Boyden, Iowa) January 7, 1943
