" Dick Hamstra, 303395, private, first class, 128th Ambulance Company, 32d Division. French Croix de Guerre with silver star, under Order No. 14.522 "D," dated March 16, 1919, General Headquarters, French Armies of the East, with the following citation: "Hearing calls for help, he voluntarily went out in front of the lines to seek the wounded and succeeded in bringing them in to a place of safety, displaying courage and coolness." "
He drowned in the Grandville Quarry in Wyoming Township after an automobile accident.
From the "Detroit Free Press" (Detroit MI) of 6 November 1940, page 11:
"Motorist Drowns in Plunge of Auto
GRAND RAPIDS, Nov. 5 - Richard[sic] Hamstra, 44 years old, of Homeacres, was imprisoned in his car and drowned in a water-filled quarry when the car struck a utility pole, careened across 300 feet of broken ground and plunged into the water.
The body was recovered 45 minutes later. The recovery was hampered because the water was so cold rescuers could not swim to the car."
From the "Benton Harbor [MI] News-Palladium" 6 November 1940 page 1:
"MOTORIST DROWNS
(By Associated Press)
GRAND RAPIDS - Richard[sic] Hamstra, 44, drowned Tuesday when his auto plunged into a water-filled quarry. Divers recovered the body."
Contributor: (48898746)
" Dick Hamstra, 303395, private, first class, 128th Ambulance Company, 32d Division. French Croix de Guerre with silver star, under Order No. 14.522 "D," dated March 16, 1919, General Headquarters, French Armies of the East, with the following citation: "Hearing calls for help, he voluntarily went out in front of the lines to seek the wounded and succeeded in bringing them in to a place of safety, displaying courage and coolness." "
He drowned in the Grandville Quarry in Wyoming Township after an automobile accident.
From the "Detroit Free Press" (Detroit MI) of 6 November 1940, page 11:
"Motorist Drowns in Plunge of Auto
GRAND RAPIDS, Nov. 5 - Richard[sic] Hamstra, 44 years old, of Homeacres, was imprisoned in his car and drowned in a water-filled quarry when the car struck a utility pole, careened across 300 feet of broken ground and plunged into the water.
The body was recovered 45 minutes later. The recovery was hampered because the water was so cold rescuers could not swim to the car."
From the "Benton Harbor [MI] News-Palladium" 6 November 1940 page 1:
"MOTORIST DROWNS
(By Associated Press)
GRAND RAPIDS - Richard[sic] Hamstra, 44, drowned Tuesday when his auto plunged into a water-filled quarry. Divers recovered the body."
Contributor: (48898746)
Inscription
"U. S. War Veteran" "PFC. 128TH AMB. CO. 32ND DIV. WORLD WAR I"
Family Members
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Joeke Annes "Jacob" Hamstra
1892–1983
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Frans Annes "Frank" Hamstra
1894–1921
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Jennie Hamstra Van Duinen
1897–1983
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Joe Hamstra
1898–1994
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Geertje Annes "Gertrude" Hamstra Kraai
1900–1982
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Anne Annes "Andrew" Hamstra
1902–1936
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Agnes Hamstra De Wind
1904–1985
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John Hamstra
1905–1986
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Theodore Hamstra
1908–1988
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Gerrit Hamstra
1910–1986
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Bertha Hamstra De Wind
1912–2005
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