Son of Nicholas and Mattie Van Zee Vander Ploeg
On November 4, 1945 he married Harriet Shiebley at Collins, Iowa. They had seven children.
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John "Bud" Vander Ploeg enlisted in the Army and was inducted Jan 28, 1943, at Camp Dodge. After training at Camp Roberts in California, he went overseas, assigned to the 37th Infantry Division of the Ohio National Guard which was then on the South Pacific island of Bougainville. He suffered a head wound when a mortar shell burst nearby. During the battle to reclaim Manila in the Philippines, he was wounded for the second time when he was shot in the thigh.
"He was later awarded the Bronze Star. His citation reads: "For meritorious achievement connection with military operations against the enemy at Luzon, Philippines Islands on February 22, 1945. While reconnoitering an area in Manila, the squad of which Sergeant Vander Ploeg was assistant squad leader was fired upon by the enemy at a distance of less than thirty yards. Sergeant Vander Ploeg was seriously wounded in the leg, but refused medical aid and continued to fire until he had forced the enemy to withdraw, leaving one of their dead behind. Sergeant Vander Ploeg's actions greatly aided in minimizing our casualties."
"After being treated for his wounds, he was honorably discharged on Feb. 21, 1946, and awarded the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, both the Asiatic Pacific Theater and the Philippine Liberation ribbons with two battle stars, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf cluster."
Bio information provided by FAG contributor Kent Kool
On November 4, 1945 he married Harriet Shiebley at Collins, Iowa. They had seven children.
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John "Bud" Vander Ploeg enlisted in the Army and was inducted Jan 28, 1943, at Camp Dodge. After training at Camp Roberts in California, he went overseas, assigned to the 37th Infantry Division of the Ohio National Guard which was then on the South Pacific island of Bougainville. He suffered a head wound when a mortar shell burst nearby. During the battle to reclaim Manila in the Philippines, he was wounded for the second time when he was shot in the thigh.
"He was later awarded the Bronze Star. His citation reads: "For meritorious achievement connection with military operations against the enemy at Luzon, Philippines Islands on February 22, 1945. While reconnoitering an area in Manila, the squad of which Sergeant Vander Ploeg was assistant squad leader was fired upon by the enemy at a distance of less than thirty yards. Sergeant Vander Ploeg was seriously wounded in the leg, but refused medical aid and continued to fire until he had forced the enemy to withdraw, leaving one of their dead behind. Sergeant Vander Ploeg's actions greatly aided in minimizing our casualties."
"After being treated for his wounds, he was honorably discharged on Feb. 21, 1946, and awarded the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, both the Asiatic Pacific Theater and the Philippine Liberation ribbons with two battle stars, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf cluster."
Bio information provided by FAG contributor Kent Kool
Son of Nicholas and Mattie Van Zee Vander Ploeg
On November 4, 1945 he married Harriet Shiebley at Collins, Iowa. They had seven children.
============================================================
John "Bud" Vander Ploeg enlisted in the Army and was inducted Jan 28, 1943, at Camp Dodge. After training at Camp Roberts in California, he went overseas, assigned to the 37th Infantry Division of the Ohio National Guard which was then on the South Pacific island of Bougainville. He suffered a head wound when a mortar shell burst nearby. During the battle to reclaim Manila in the Philippines, he was wounded for the second time when he was shot in the thigh.
"He was later awarded the Bronze Star. His citation reads: "For meritorious achievement connection with military operations against the enemy at Luzon, Philippines Islands on February 22, 1945. While reconnoitering an area in Manila, the squad of which Sergeant Vander Ploeg was assistant squad leader was fired upon by the enemy at a distance of less than thirty yards. Sergeant Vander Ploeg was seriously wounded in the leg, but refused medical aid and continued to fire until he had forced the enemy to withdraw, leaving one of their dead behind. Sergeant Vander Ploeg's actions greatly aided in minimizing our casualties."
"After being treated for his wounds, he was honorably discharged on Feb. 21, 1946, and awarded the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, both the Asiatic Pacific Theater and the Philippine Liberation ribbons with two battle stars, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf cluster."
Bio information provided by FAG contributor Kent Kool
On November 4, 1945 he married Harriet Shiebley at Collins, Iowa. They had seven children.
============================================================
John "Bud" Vander Ploeg enlisted in the Army and was inducted Jan 28, 1943, at Camp Dodge. After training at Camp Roberts in California, he went overseas, assigned to the 37th Infantry Division of the Ohio National Guard which was then on the South Pacific island of Bougainville. He suffered a head wound when a mortar shell burst nearby. During the battle to reclaim Manila in the Philippines, he was wounded for the second time when he was shot in the thigh.
"He was later awarded the Bronze Star. His citation reads: "For meritorious achievement connection with military operations against the enemy at Luzon, Philippines Islands on February 22, 1945. While reconnoitering an area in Manila, the squad of which Sergeant Vander Ploeg was assistant squad leader was fired upon by the enemy at a distance of less than thirty yards. Sergeant Vander Ploeg was seriously wounded in the leg, but refused medical aid and continued to fire until he had forced the enemy to withdraw, leaving one of their dead behind. Sergeant Vander Ploeg's actions greatly aided in minimizing our casualties."
"After being treated for his wounds, he was honorably discharged on Feb. 21, 1946, and awarded the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, both the Asiatic Pacific Theater and the Philippine Liberation ribbons with two battle stars, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf cluster."
Bio information provided by FAG contributor Kent Kool
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