ella Chronicle (Pella, Iowa, USA), September 19, 1918, pg. 1
John Van Veen Dead In France
Member of the 168th Infantry, Rainbow Division, dies of Injuries Received.
The First Death From Pella
Mrs. H. Van Veen received word Saturday that her son John had died in France. The word was received in a rather unusual manner, but there seems to be little doubt of the correctness. It came in a notice to Mrs. Van Veen from the insurance department of the government, asking her to sign certain papers that payment might be made on the policy of her son John, who died July 29th. This was the first word the family had received intimating that John had died, although a letter from Arthur DeJoode to his parents, written from a hospital, stated that John Van Veen was also injured. This was some time ago, and the presumption is that John died in the hospital of injuries received in battle during the hard fighting which took place the latter half of July.
John Van Veen was a young man whose life had been spent in and about Pella until something over a year ago, when he heard the call of his country for troops and enlisted in Co. H, 168th Infantry. His company was made up at Oskaloosa and left Iowa just a little over a year ago, sailing from New York in October, 1917. Chronicle readers will remember some interesting letters written by John to his folks here, which we were permitted to publish. His letters were cheerful and indicated that he looked upon his service in the army as a duty which he was ready to perform. It was a great shock, not only to the immediate family who felt it most, but to all who knew John to learn the news of his death in this unusual manner. It is difficult to account for the fact that news should come through the insurance department before the name is reported in the casualty list or the family has received notice of it from the war department. The last letter received from him by his family or friends in Pella was dated about July 18th, and in this, we believe nothing was said about being wounded or sick. The letter from Arthur DeJoode mentioned above is the only other word received regarding him since that time until the request that the insurance papers be signed.
Source: Pella Chronicle (Pella, Iowa, USA), January 16, 1919, pg. 1
Memorial Service
The first of the Pella boys to fall in the nationa service during the war was John Van Veen. He was a member of the famous 168th, which was so fearfully decimated in the fighting in the early part of the offensive, which began July 18. He was severely wounded July 28 and died of his wounds two days later. A memorial service in his honor will be held at the Second Reformed church Sunday evening, Jan. 19, at 7:30 o'clock. Men in uniform are especially invited and will be seated in a body after assembling in the Sunday school rooms.
Source: Pella Chronicle (Pella, Iowa, USA), August 3, 1922, pg. 5 (excerpts)
American Legion Post Adopts a New Name
The monthly meeting of the American Legion Monday evening was the time appointed for voting on a change of name for the post. It had been on the minds of some of the members for some time that the post should commemorate the names of some of the loyal men of the community who laid down their lives in the great war.
The name chosen was "Van Veen - Van Hemert", a combination of the names of the only two men whose homes were within the corporate limits of Pella to be shot down in battle. As is shown to our readers these men were John Van Veen and Gerrit Van Hemert. Both were killed during the summer of 1918, and the Chronicle published their pictures at the time. Both were faithful soldiers and the post is proud to be known by the name borne by two such men.
John Van Veen Dead In France
Member of the 168th Infantry, Rainbow Division, dies of Injuries Received.
The First Death From Pella
Mrs. H. Van Veen received word Saturday that her son John had died in France. The word was received in a rather unusual manner, but there seems to be little doubt of the correctness. It came in a notice to Mrs. Van Veen from the insurance department of the government, asking her to sign certain papers that payment might be made on the policy of her son John, who died July 29th. This was the first word the family had received intimating that John had died, although a letter from Arthur DeJoode to his parents, written from a hospital, stated that John Van Veen was also injured. This was some time ago, and the presumption is that John died in the hospital of injuries received in battle during the hard fighting which took place the latter half of July.
John Van Veen was a young man whose life had been spent in and about Pella until something over a year ago, when he heard the call of his country for troops and enlisted in Co. H, 168th Infantry. His company was made up at Oskaloosa and left Iowa just a little over a year ago, sailing from New York in October, 1917. Chronicle readers will remember some interesting letters written by John to his folks here, which we were permitted to publish. His letters were cheerful and indicated that he looked upon his service in the army as a duty which he was ready to perform. It was a great shock, not only to the immediate family who felt it most, but to all who knew John to learn the news of his death in this unusual manner. It is difficult to account for the fact that news should come through the insurance department before the name is reported in the casualty list or the family has received notice of it from the war department. The last letter received from him by his family or friends in Pella was dated about July 18th, and in this, we believe nothing was said about being wounded or sick. The letter from Arthur DeJoode mentioned above is the only other word received regarding him since that time until the request that the insurance papers be signed.
Source: Pella Chronicle (Pella, Iowa, USA), January 16, 1919, pg. 1
Memorial Service
The first of the Pella boys to fall in the nationa service during the war was John Van Veen. He was a member of the famous 168th, which was so fearfully decimated in the fighting in the early part of the offensive, which began July 18. He was severely wounded July 28 and died of his wounds two days later. A memorial service in his honor will be held at the Second Reformed church Sunday evening, Jan. 19, at 7:30 o'clock. Men in uniform are especially invited and will be seated in a body after assembling in the Sunday school rooms.
Source: Pella Chronicle (Pella, Iowa, USA), August 3, 1922, pg. 5 (excerpts)
American Legion Post Adopts a New Name
The monthly meeting of the American Legion Monday evening was the time appointed for voting on a change of name for the post. It had been on the minds of some of the members for some time that the post should commemorate the names of some of the loyal men of the community who laid down their lives in the great war.
The name chosen was "Van Veen - Van Hemert", a combination of the names of the only two men whose homes were within the corporate limits of Pella to be shot down in battle. As is shown to our readers these men were John Van Veen and Gerrit Van Hemert. Both were killed during the summer of 1918, and the Chronicle published their pictures at the time. Both were faithful soldiers and the post is proud to be known by the name borne by two such men.
ella Chronicle (Pella, Iowa, USA), September 19, 1918, pg. 1
John Van Veen Dead In France
Member of the 168th Infantry, Rainbow Division, dies of Injuries Received.
The First Death From Pella
Mrs. H. Van Veen received word Saturday that her son John had died in France. The word was received in a rather unusual manner, but there seems to be little doubt of the correctness. It came in a notice to Mrs. Van Veen from the insurance department of the government, asking her to sign certain papers that payment might be made on the policy of her son John, who died July 29th. This was the first word the family had received intimating that John had died, although a letter from Arthur DeJoode to his parents, written from a hospital, stated that John Van Veen was also injured. This was some time ago, and the presumption is that John died in the hospital of injuries received in battle during the hard fighting which took place the latter half of July.
John Van Veen was a young man whose life had been spent in and about Pella until something over a year ago, when he heard the call of his country for troops and enlisted in Co. H, 168th Infantry. His company was made up at Oskaloosa and left Iowa just a little over a year ago, sailing from New York in October, 1917. Chronicle readers will remember some interesting letters written by John to his folks here, which we were permitted to publish. His letters were cheerful and indicated that he looked upon his service in the army as a duty which he was ready to perform. It was a great shock, not only to the immediate family who felt it most, but to all who knew John to learn the news of his death in this unusual manner. It is difficult to account for the fact that news should come through the insurance department before the name is reported in the casualty list or the family has received notice of it from the war department. The last letter received from him by his family or friends in Pella was dated about July 18th, and in this, we believe nothing was said about being wounded or sick. The letter from Arthur DeJoode mentioned above is the only other word received regarding him since that time until the request that the insurance papers be signed.
Source: Pella Chronicle (Pella, Iowa, USA), January 16, 1919, pg. 1
Memorial Service
The first of the Pella boys to fall in the nationa service during the war was John Van Veen. He was a member of the famous 168th, which was so fearfully decimated in the fighting in the early part of the offensive, which began July 18. He was severely wounded July 28 and died of his wounds two days later. A memorial service in his honor will be held at the Second Reformed church Sunday evening, Jan. 19, at 7:30 o'clock. Men in uniform are especially invited and will be seated in a body after assembling in the Sunday school rooms.
Source: Pella Chronicle (Pella, Iowa, USA), August 3, 1922, pg. 5 (excerpts)
American Legion Post Adopts a New Name
The monthly meeting of the American Legion Monday evening was the time appointed for voting on a change of name for the post. It had been on the minds of some of the members for some time that the post should commemorate the names of some of the loyal men of the community who laid down their lives in the great war.
The name chosen was "Van Veen - Van Hemert", a combination of the names of the only two men whose homes were within the corporate limits of Pella to be shot down in battle. As is shown to our readers these men were John Van Veen and Gerrit Van Hemert. Both were killed during the summer of 1918, and the Chronicle published their pictures at the time. Both were faithful soldiers and the post is proud to be known by the name borne by two such men.
John Van Veen Dead In France
Member of the 168th Infantry, Rainbow Division, dies of Injuries Received.
The First Death From Pella
Mrs. H. Van Veen received word Saturday that her son John had died in France. The word was received in a rather unusual manner, but there seems to be little doubt of the correctness. It came in a notice to Mrs. Van Veen from the insurance department of the government, asking her to sign certain papers that payment might be made on the policy of her son John, who died July 29th. This was the first word the family had received intimating that John had died, although a letter from Arthur DeJoode to his parents, written from a hospital, stated that John Van Veen was also injured. This was some time ago, and the presumption is that John died in the hospital of injuries received in battle during the hard fighting which took place the latter half of July.
John Van Veen was a young man whose life had been spent in and about Pella until something over a year ago, when he heard the call of his country for troops and enlisted in Co. H, 168th Infantry. His company was made up at Oskaloosa and left Iowa just a little over a year ago, sailing from New York in October, 1917. Chronicle readers will remember some interesting letters written by John to his folks here, which we were permitted to publish. His letters were cheerful and indicated that he looked upon his service in the army as a duty which he was ready to perform. It was a great shock, not only to the immediate family who felt it most, but to all who knew John to learn the news of his death in this unusual manner. It is difficult to account for the fact that news should come through the insurance department before the name is reported in the casualty list or the family has received notice of it from the war department. The last letter received from him by his family or friends in Pella was dated about July 18th, and in this, we believe nothing was said about being wounded or sick. The letter from Arthur DeJoode mentioned above is the only other word received regarding him since that time until the request that the insurance papers be signed.
Source: Pella Chronicle (Pella, Iowa, USA), January 16, 1919, pg. 1
Memorial Service
The first of the Pella boys to fall in the nationa service during the war was John Van Veen. He was a member of the famous 168th, which was so fearfully decimated in the fighting in the early part of the offensive, which began July 18. He was severely wounded July 28 and died of his wounds two days later. A memorial service in his honor will be held at the Second Reformed church Sunday evening, Jan. 19, at 7:30 o'clock. Men in uniform are especially invited and will be seated in a body after assembling in the Sunday school rooms.
Source: Pella Chronicle (Pella, Iowa, USA), August 3, 1922, pg. 5 (excerpts)
American Legion Post Adopts a New Name
The monthly meeting of the American Legion Monday evening was the time appointed for voting on a change of name for the post. It had been on the minds of some of the members for some time that the post should commemorate the names of some of the loyal men of the community who laid down their lives in the great war.
The name chosen was "Van Veen - Van Hemert", a combination of the names of the only two men whose homes were within the corporate limits of Pella to be shot down in battle. As is shown to our readers these men were John Van Veen and Gerrit Van Hemert. Both were killed during the summer of 1918, and the Chronicle published their pictures at the time. Both were faithful soldiers and the post is proud to be known by the name borne by two such men.
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