Mrs. Herman Vander Laan, of Laurens, Iowa, received a telegram Thursday noon that her husband, 1st Lt. Herman Vander Lann, was killed in action December 15th in Germany.
Mrs. Vander Laan arrived in the parental, Mr. and Mrs. John Vander Laan, home Friday morning.
Memorial services will be held in the local First Reformed church Thursday afternoon with Rev. H. Colenbrander in charge.
Alton Democrat 1945-01-04.
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Lieutenant Vander Laan Killed In Action, December 15, in Germany
Mrs. Marcia Vander Laan was notified Thursday by the War Department in Washington, that her husband, first lieutenant Herman T. VanderLaan had been killed in action in Germany, December 15.
Lt. VanderLaan of Orange City was not well known by many in the Laurens community, but his wife is the former Marcia Thomsen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Thomsen.
Lt. VanderLaan entered the Army in April 1942 and received his training at Camp Barkeley, Texas, and the California desert. He went overseas in March of 1944. His regiment landed on the Normandy beach on H-hour with another division.
Since D-day he had been in combat almost constantly until the day of his death.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant on September 29 and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant on November 23.
Lt. VanderLaan leaves to mourn his passing, besides his wife, Marcia, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John VanderLaan; two brothers, Clarence and Harold; a sister, Leona, all of Orange City; a brother, Lewis, of Beresford, South Dakota; and another brother, Cpl. Marion serving in England with the air forces. Also many friends in Orange City, Maurice, and those he had met in Laurens.
Memorial services were held today, Thursday, in Orange City, Iowa.
Laurens Sun 1945-01-04.
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Legion Memorial For VanderLaan
Presented Wife With Flag at Ceremonies on Monday Night
Memorial services for first lieutenant Herman T. Vander Laan, were conducted by the American Legion and Auxiliary at the Legion Hall Monday, Lt. VanderLaan's wife, the former Marcia Thomsen, was present to receive the flag of the United States presented by the government through the American Legion.
Mr. and Mrs. John VanderLaan of Orange City and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Thomsen were also in attendance.
The teacher's sextet sang "Just a Prayer Away," and the entire audience united in the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner."
The memorial was held following the regular meetings of the Legion and Auxiliary.
Laurens Sun 1945-05-17.
Contributed by Mark (#48867749):
Date posted - November 14, 2016
Northwest Iowa — Congressman Steve King was in northwest Iowa on Friday. Among his stops were two to present two very different types of medals, and a stop at a northwest Iowa hospital.
In Sioux Center, King presented Marion (Bud), Harold, and Clarence Vander Laan — the brothers of deceased WWII Veteran Herman Vander Laan — with the Silver Star that was obtained by King’s office. The ceremony was at the Terrace View Events Center in Sioux Center.
King’s office says deceased WW II Veteran, Herman Theodore Vander Laan was born June 28, 1918 and served in the U.S. Army from April 2, 1942 to December 15, 1945 when he was killed in action.
Before his death, Herman was fortunate to meet with his brother Marion in England. Marion was serving in the Army Air Corps at the time.
Herman received his training at Camp Barkeley, Texas and in the California desert. He went overseas in 1944 and his regiment landed on the Normandy Beach on H-hour and after D-Day he served in combat in Patton’s 3rd Army until his death. His wife Marcia was a WAC Private at the time of his death. Herman was a 1st Lieutenant in the 90th Division. On the day he was killed, he crawled to within 20 feet of an enemy pill box and killed the machine gun crew with carbine fire. He was mortally wounded but afterward, the fortification was captured with a minimum of casualties.
He was awarded the Silver Star and other medals posthumously in 1945 from the 90th Infantry Division and his widow Marcia, kept the Silver Star. There were no children.
Marcia remarried and died in 1986 but the whereabouts of the original Silver Star are unknown.
Mrs. Herman Vander Laan, of Laurens, Iowa, received a telegram Thursday noon that her husband, 1st Lt. Herman Vander Lann, was killed in action December 15th in Germany.
Mrs. Vander Laan arrived in the parental, Mr. and Mrs. John Vander Laan, home Friday morning.
Memorial services will be held in the local First Reformed church Thursday afternoon with Rev. H. Colenbrander in charge.
Alton Democrat 1945-01-04.
-----------------------------------
Lieutenant Vander Laan Killed In Action, December 15, in Germany
Mrs. Marcia Vander Laan was notified Thursday by the War Department in Washington, that her husband, first lieutenant Herman T. VanderLaan had been killed in action in Germany, December 15.
Lt. VanderLaan of Orange City was not well known by many in the Laurens community, but his wife is the former Marcia Thomsen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Thomsen.
Lt. VanderLaan entered the Army in April 1942 and received his training at Camp Barkeley, Texas, and the California desert. He went overseas in March of 1944. His regiment landed on the Normandy beach on H-hour with another division.
Since D-day he had been in combat almost constantly until the day of his death.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant on September 29 and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant on November 23.
Lt. VanderLaan leaves to mourn his passing, besides his wife, Marcia, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John VanderLaan; two brothers, Clarence and Harold; a sister, Leona, all of Orange City; a brother, Lewis, of Beresford, South Dakota; and another brother, Cpl. Marion serving in England with the air forces. Also many friends in Orange City, Maurice, and those he had met in Laurens.
Memorial services were held today, Thursday, in Orange City, Iowa.
Laurens Sun 1945-01-04.
---------------------------------
Legion Memorial For VanderLaan
Presented Wife With Flag at Ceremonies on Monday Night
Memorial services for first lieutenant Herman T. Vander Laan, were conducted by the American Legion and Auxiliary at the Legion Hall Monday, Lt. VanderLaan's wife, the former Marcia Thomsen, was present to receive the flag of the United States presented by the government through the American Legion.
Mr. and Mrs. John VanderLaan of Orange City and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Thomsen were also in attendance.
The teacher's sextet sang "Just a Prayer Away," and the entire audience united in the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner."
The memorial was held following the regular meetings of the Legion and Auxiliary.
Laurens Sun 1945-05-17.
Contributed by Mark (#48867749):
Date posted - November 14, 2016
Northwest Iowa — Congressman Steve King was in northwest Iowa on Friday. Among his stops were two to present two very different types of medals, and a stop at a northwest Iowa hospital.
In Sioux Center, King presented Marion (Bud), Harold, and Clarence Vander Laan — the brothers of deceased WWII Veteran Herman Vander Laan — with the Silver Star that was obtained by King’s office. The ceremony was at the Terrace View Events Center in Sioux Center.
King’s office says deceased WW II Veteran, Herman Theodore Vander Laan was born June 28, 1918 and served in the U.S. Army from April 2, 1942 to December 15, 1945 when he was killed in action.
Before his death, Herman was fortunate to meet with his brother Marion in England. Marion was serving in the Army Air Corps at the time.
Herman received his training at Camp Barkeley, Texas and in the California desert. He went overseas in 1944 and his regiment landed on the Normandy Beach on H-hour and after D-Day he served in combat in Patton’s 3rd Army until his death. His wife Marcia was a WAC Private at the time of his death. Herman was a 1st Lieutenant in the 90th Division. On the day he was killed, he crawled to within 20 feet of an enemy pill box and killed the machine gun crew with carbine fire. He was mortally wounded but afterward, the fortification was captured with a minimum of casualties.
He was awarded the Silver Star and other medals posthumously in 1945 from the 90th Infantry Division and his widow Marcia, kept the Silver Star. There were no children.
Marcia remarried and died in 1986 but the whereabouts of the original Silver Star are unknown.
Inscription
1LT, 359 INF, 90 INF DIV WORLD WAR II
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