Henrietta Eppink Enlists As Army Nurse
Henrietta Eppink, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Eppink living west of Sioux Center, notified her family that she has left New York and gone into army nursing, stationed at Fort Devons, Mass. with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Her address is: 2nd Lt. Henrietta Eppink, A. N. C., New Station Hospital, Fort Devons, Massachusetts.
2nd Lt. Eppink is the first woman born and raised in Sioux Center to enter army nursing of World War No. II. She has been head nurse on her floor in a New York hospital and night nurse for the main building.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 1, 1942 p 1
New Station Hospital
Fort Devens, Mass.
Jan. 10, 1943
Dear Mr. Roelofs and Sioux Center friends:
I wanted before this to write my appreciation of your kindness in sending me the newspaper and so many other things. Last week’s Fort Devens Digest urged everyone to subscribe to his hometown paper, so perhaps more towns will be doing what you are doing. I sent the last few copies to Everett Ver Beek, whom you may know. He’s not quite a Sioux Centerite now, but used to be. Maybe it’s about my turn to contribute a little news, too.
Our latest news here is that the WAAC’s have arrived. They will be helping to staff the hospitals and drive cars, so we’ll be seeing more of them soon. Here’s hoping for some good teamwork.
At present I am on duty at Old Station, a hospital used for soldier’s families, sick nurses and WAACs, and believe it or not, I’m in Obstetrics. My friends laugh at me for (illegible) to my old ways, but as usual, I love it. My family regularly gets a report on Johnny who arrived about 1 lb. 11 oz. and is now a husky heavyweight of 3½. He was (illegible) the other day, and letting out a few little cries, and everybody came to listen. As to the rest, I figure on turning out at least a President and a few cabinet members. Somebody usually has to stop me when I get enthusiastic about the children.
As far as army life goes, I can say we’ve been very well taken care of. This is beautiful country, although I miss little old New York. You’ve heard so much from the boys in other camps and this one has probably about the same setup. We live in barracks; eat army cooking. We are supposed to be allowed one cup of coffee a day but on night duty, we get more than our quota to help keep awake. For entertainment, several movie theaters on the post, shows given by visiting radio groups and actors, singers and orchestras are all badly needed and much appreciated. Our own chaplains hold services in the hospital, but occasionally we get to a chapel which seems a little more like church. I can’t report on the U.S.O. activities, but I hear they are doing a good job. I can tell you how we appreciate the efforts of the Red Cross workers both for us personally and for the hospital. They help us by taking care of relatives of patients seriously ill, and doing anything else they can, and their work becomes invaluable during long convalescent periods. As for the Red Cross chapters who sew and knit, I want to contradict the rumor that these things are not appreciated. What a bright spot the beautiful Afghans make in a ward made up with gray army blankets. How cozy the socks to sleep in on cold nights in our cardboard houses.
So much about me, now about all of you. I’ve been in only a few homes lately but realize there are new problems with shortages and rationing. That besides the worrying and waiting. I know I don’t have to tell you to stand together. There comes to my mind a phrase from the Bible that says, “To him that is joined unto all the living, there is hope”. So, it’s everybody’s business to see that no one is isolated and lonely at a time like this.
To the boys in the service, I want to say I read all your letters. I just hope I’m worthy of belonging to your group.
Sincerely yours, Henrietta Eppink
Henrietta Eppink 2nd Lt. A. N. C.
New Station Hospital
Fort Devens, Mass.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 21, 1943 p 9
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.
…..
10 2nd Leutenants
Henrietta Eppink (army nurse)
…..
Source: Sioux Center News July 8, 1943 p 5
Army Nurse Leaves For Overseas Duty
2nd Lt. Henrietta Eppink, army nurse, is leaving the states for overseas duty according to work received by her family here this week. Miss Eppink has been granted no furlough since she entered the service last year. Her new address is: 2nd Lt. Henrietta Eppink, N. 744853, A. N. C., 9th General Hospital, APO 4652, c.o. Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News July 29, 1943 p 8
First S. C. Woman To Serve Overseas
(photo)
LT. HENRIETTA EPPINK
Word was received here last week that 2nd Lt. Henrietta Eppink of the army nursing corps has received orders for overseas duty. Miss Eppink is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Eppink of Sioux Center. She is a graduate of the Presbyterian School of Nursing of Chicago and has spent recent years as supervisor at the New York hospital, New York City. She entered the army nursing corps last September and until recently has bee stationed at Fort Devens, Mass. Her present address is:
2nd Lt. Henrietta Eppink A. N. C.
N. 744853
9th General Hospital
APO 4652
San Francisco, Calif.
In a letter received this week, she stated that she couldn’t tell her family where she was but apparently she had arrived at her destination, undoubtedly on foreign soil.
So far as we know, Miss Eppink is the first woman from this community to go overseas in the service of her country during this war.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 5, 1943 p 1
Sept. 1, 1943
Somewhere in Australia
Dear Mr. Roelofs and Sioux Centerites:
I realized a while ago when I went to see the Van Roekels at Amberst and they asked whether I was still taking care of miniature Johnnie and Susies, that it was time for me to give another account of myself.
Recently we took a long train trip to the west coast. We had Pullman cars and porters, meals were cooked on field kitchen stoves right on the train by our own cooks and we formed the well-known line. The train stopped routinely for everybody to get off and do calisthenics on the nearest grassy field. The was no air conditioning and we were plenty grimy most of the time. We all agree that the only thing we’d recognize about any city we came through would be its freight yards. We came by not too far away from you, but the G. I. travel bureau does not favor little side trips so I couldn’t stop off. We enjoyed the scenery all the way but the Rockies had us in awe. We studied maps, talked to the trainmen at every stop and found what different whistles and signals meant. The engines they put on when the train had to climb were huge, the long round part being about twice as long as that on a regular engine.
Arriving on the west coast we hiked a few miles with full pack to a camp in the desert and stayed there long enough to get clean again. Clothes dried in fifteen minutes and washing, ironing and packing went on far into the night. We had a variation from run-of-the-mill army mess halls, a cafeteria where the most wonderful salads and fruits were available. While there we also had to learn to climb rope ladders swung to the height of the top of a two-story building. We had to fight our fears and also strengthen our arms so they could pull us up. Coming down was easier. We will also remember this camp as the salutingest place we ever encountered.
Then another long hike to the transportation that was to take us to our ship. The weather was hot, we were in woolens, and we staggered under our packs. Darkey troops ahead sang Negro spirituals as only they can sing them. Their chaplain whom we got to know better later was a wonderful intelligent man, but most of those men are like children. A favorite song of theirs was sung without music:
Must Jesus bear the cross alone
And all the world go free?
No, there’s a cross for everyone
And there’s a cross for me.
It seemed so to belong to a race with their history. Expectation of trouble and patient endurance always seem close under their surface. Dust and heat and a heavy load were part of their cross and they went steadily on and we followed after. But when we boarded our transportation to a band playing Pennsylvania Polka and other popular tunes they almost broke into a dance. White troops responded with more cheerfulness, too.
Boarding the ship was a different matter. Stealthily, at night, at a deserted dock, we went up the gangplank, were shown to our cabins, and remained there with no open portholes or any hilarity till the boat was out to the ocean.
The trip was pleasant. There was danger we knew, but we had faith in our protectors and didn’t do much worrying. When the war is over, I can recommend nothing better than a trip to Australia for a restful holiday. Some people were weary of quite so much water as evidenced by a want-ad in the ship’s paper requesting “A hill, any hill, to go over”. But for most of us time went quickly. Various hobbies were pursued, there were lessons in sketching, bridge and French, boxing matches, exhibitions of magic by the ship’s doctor, medical lectures, calisthenics, lessons in Judo, dancers and group singing. We traded the North Star and the Great Dipper for the Southern Cross. The day we crossed the equator we went through the ceremony of becoming shellbacks. It was rough and hilarious, and when it was over we were completely weary and dirty. But there was more real happiness and a quiet lifting of hearts when we were greeted by welcoming wings and there were signs of land.
At present we are camped in tents in the woods. It is early spring and the nights are pretty cold. Birds are numerous and noisy, parrots talking away in something besides English. The native kangaroos and koala bears are only found in zoos in this area. We are near enough to a city to take a train in, and its amazingly like our own cities. We’ve concluded that there is far more American than British influence. They import our magazines, books, movies, and so our ideas, and they sing our songs. I’ve had to look sharply to find any of each of these that did not come from us. They depend on our manufactured goods. They need our cotton as they produce only wool for clothes. For this reason their clothes are rationed but food is not, and their steaks are probably the best in the world right now. The women copy our styles with different results sometimes. I’ve seen more than one of our girls look puzzled at exactly what was different. They seem to like all kinds of handwork and do beautiful designs in knitting. Like all pioneer women (for this is a new country) their homes and children have absorbed them, but they have gone into the services in a big way. Their women in service may represent a larger proportion of their population than ours, but enemies being pretty near their back door may have had something to do with it. These people are a great deal like us and have treated us most graciously.
We’ve come in contact with Aussie soldiers, too, and of course our own boys. But that’s their story and I’d better stop talking so they can. Best wishes to you all. Thank you for remembering me. Sincerely yours,
Henrietta Eppink
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 16, 1943 p 10
Lt. Henrietta Eppink has a new APO number which is 928, Unit 1 is also added to her address. Call either her parents or the News if you desire her complete address.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 27, 1944, p 2
(Excerpt from a letter from Lt. Mavin Grotenhuis serving in the South Pacific)
I was surprised to receive a letter from Lt. Henrietta Eppink. She undoubtedly got my address from the News, and I will try to answer her letter soon.
Source: Sioux Center News July 20, 1944 p 2
SIOUX CENTERITES MEET ON FOREIGN SHORES
An interesting picture came from New Guinea recently where Evert Franken and Nurse Henrietta Eppink are stationed. They are on the picture with two other members of the army. The News hoped to publish the picture but the mountains and mist in the background would make it impossible to secure a clear reprint for the paper. We will have it in the News Office a few days after the paper is out for those of you who are interested in seeing it.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 3, 1944 p 2
SIX LOCAL BOYS AND ARMY NURSE MEET IN NEW GUINEA
Took Picture of Group
The thrill that can only come to a stranger in a strange land, was experienced by six local soldier boys and Lt. Henrietta Eppink, army nurse, when they met recently in New Guinea. Henry Vonk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Vonk, drives a jeep and according to his letter to his folks, he gathered up four more boys from this area, including Everett Franken, Clarence Mol, Dick De Weerd and Dick Vander Hoef and they climbed into Henry’s jeep and drove over to see Everett who seems to be stationed some distance away. Somewhere along the line they met with Lt. Henrietta Eppink who seems to have moved to New Guinea proper just recently also. She incidentally had finally succeeded in meeting with her brother-in-law, Lt. Neal Mol who is a flyer stationed in that area also.
Lt. Mol brought her some oranges and apples which apparently were quite a treat, and they had a very pleasant visit together. The Eppink family had thought Henrietta was on New Guinea for some time, but according to her recent letters, she must have been stationed a short distance from there, as she said she had moved by boat to her new location.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept. 21, 1944 p 1
They Met In New Guinea
(photo of the boys was published)
Left to right: Dick De Weerd, Dick Vande Hoef, Clarence Mol, Everett Franken and Henry Vonk
These are the five local boys who met recently in New Guinea where all are stationed at present. They also met with Lt. Henrietta Eppink, army nurse who is now stationed there.
Source: Sioux Center News Sept 28, 1944 p 1
Cpl. Dick De Weerd of New Guinea describes reunion with local boys:
Sept. 1, 1944
Dear Ed and Friends:
On the 27th of August (Sunday afternoon) five hometown servicemen serving in the S.W.P. Area had a fascinating reunion. During the previous week, arrangements with one another were made to try and get that afternoon off. No unforeseen interruption seemed to take place. So, Pfc. Dick Vander Hoef, Cpl. Everett Franken, Cpl. Clarence J. Mol, Pvt. Henry Vonk and Cpl. Dick De Weerd met and had a pleasant time. As could be expected, we spoke mostly of pre-war days in Sioux Center. A close second in conversation were the bewitching occurrences we have had with the ‘sons-of-heaven’. With Everett being in the photo branch of the service, this permitted us to take a group picture. Three days followed, then each of us had in our possession the developed photos. We have gathered from various sources that 9 Sioux Center service personnel are within an area of 100 miles in diameter; one of these being a member of the Army Nurse Corps. At one of my former stations I was fortunate enough to pay Henrietta Eppink a few social calls. We had some enlivening conversations. I understand she recently has been transferred to this area. Mention at our short reunion was made of the interesting and fascinating articles which were still being published in the news. By this paper our knowledge of home town changes is kept in trim. When we have more time we will drop you another note. Thanks for the past services, we appreciate them all.
Yours in the service,
Cpl. Dick De Weerd
(Editor’s note: The picture he mentions was published in the News two weeks ago. Johanna Mol lending us her print.)
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 12, 1944 p 8
ENROUTE HOME
Lt. Henrietta Eppink who has been in the service for nearly four years, recently spent four days visiting with her brother Herman who is at the Philippine Islands and she expects to come home the latter part of November.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 11, 1945 p 12
ARMY NURSE BACK IN STATES
LT. HENRIETTA EPPINK
Lt. Henrietta Eppink called her parents Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Eppink the past week that she has arrived in the states and she is expected to arrive here in the very near future.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 22, 1945 p 4
ARMY NURSE HOME
Lt. Henrietta Eppink arrived at the parental John Eppink home on Friday afternoon and is enjoying a furlough at home after two and a half years of service in the South Pacific. She will report for further orders in the early part of January. Before coming home she visited with her sisters Mrs. Neal Mol at Fairfield, Calif., Alice who is employed at Detroit, Mich. and Anna who is teaching at Waterloo.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 6, 1945 p 12
Nettie and Joan Vander Schaaf entertained friends at their home last Wednesday evening in honor of Lt. Henrietta Eppink, who is home on an overseas furlough. She will leave again next week after spending the past 50 days at home.
…..
The members of the Junior Ladies Aid of the First Reformed Church held their annual Christmas meeting at the church parlors on Tuesday afternoon. Lt. Henrietta Eppink home on furlough from overseas was a special guest and also spoke on her experiences while serving as army nurse. She also displayed many souvenirs which she brought home with her.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 27, 1945 p 6
An interesting C. E. meeting was held at the First Reformed Church on Sunday evening under the leadership of Agnes Sneller and Bernetta Kamerman. … Henrietta Eppink, home on furlough, also spoke for a short time and told of many interesting experiences she had while serving overseas as an army nurse.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 31, 1946 p 9
Henrietta Eppink was born Oct. 29, 1907 to John W. and Mina Everdina “Minnie” Beyer Eppink. She died May 12, 2001 and is buried in Memory Gardens Sioux Center Cemetery, Sioux County, IA.
From her obituary in the Sioux City Journal: Henrietta was raised in Sioux Center, where she graduated from high school in 1925. She then taught rural school near Carmel, Iowa. She graduated from Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago in 1931. She was employed as a private nurse in Chicago for one year, then employed in the maternity department of New York City Hospital. She also completed courses at Columbia University Teachers College.
During World War II, she served in the U.S. Army Nurses Corps with 9th General Hospital in the Pacific Theater. Following her discharge, she returned to New York Hospital for two years, then attended the University of Washington in Seattle. She received her bachelor's degree and master’s degree in nursing. She was then an instructor in nursing at Broadlawns Hospital School of Nursing in Des Moines for three years. For the next 24 years, she was an instructor at Michigan State University School of Nursing, teaching maternal-child nursing. While there, she established a library. She received her doctor of education degree from Wayne State University. In 1976, she retired to Sioux Center.
Source: ancestry.com
