71 years ago one of my relatives was killed in action during the heavy fighting for Zig-Zag Pass, Luzon, Philippines on 6 February 1945. His name, as the title says, was Bernard Steenwyk. He served with Company L, 152nd Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division "Cyclone," later dubbed the "Avengers of Bataan" by Gen. MacArthur. He was born on July 8, 1920 and grew up on a farm near Hudsonville, Michigan. He was one of nine kids, five sisters and three other brothers, and was engaged to be married. He entered the service on 25 August 1942. He went through his initial training at Camp Wheeler, located near Macon, Georgia. Upon completion, he was stationed at Camp Carrabelle (Camp Gordon Johnston), near the Gulf coast city of Carrabelle, Florida, training in amphibious warfare. It was there he was officially assigned to the 152nd Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division. In December '42/January '43, he and his division left for Hawaii, where they provided ground defense on Oahu for a year and a half. In July '44, the division sailed for New Guinea, and on 6 December 1944 he and his division arrived in the Philippines, at Leyte, where they participated in clearing the Japanese off of several airstrips. Pvt. Steenwyk performed his last amphibious landing on 29 January 1945 where he took part in the operation to recapture the Bataan peninsula. Here are a few informational resources on the battle in which he was killed:
Wiki
Divisional Historical Report on the Operation
He is interred in the Manila American Cemetery.
This is the cover and inside spread of the small memorial card given out at his memorial service here in the states.
This is one of his letters home written to his sister. He was at Camp Carrabelle in Florida when this was penned.
Letter courtesy of Heritage Hall, Calvin College
This is his last letter, written two weeks and five days before his death.
Letter courtesy of Heritage Hall, Calvin College
Here is the notice the family received confirming Bernard's death, along with a letter from his commanding officer describing the circumstances in which he was killed.
Letters courtesy of Heritage Hall, Calvin College
This is a copy of his internment record at the Manila American Cemetery, Philippines.
Courtesy of Heritage Hall, Calvin College
This is Pvt. Steenwyk's headstone today. Several months ago a coworker of mine went to Manila to visit the cemetery. I told him I had a relative buried there, and asked him to take a picture of the headstone if he had time. It turned out that he did, and he took a bunch of pictures. He notified the cemetery staff before he visited that he'd like to visit that grave and why, and they actually put a small American flag in front the headstone to identify which one it was. They also rubbed a temporary dark material into the headstone's carved letters for contrast so that it would show up clearly in photographs. I'm especially grateful for the time my coworker and the cemetery staff spent so that my family can have these photographs of Pvt. Bernard Steenwyk's grave.
Wiki
Divisional Historical Report on the Operation
He is interred in the Manila American Cemetery.
This is the cover and inside spread of the small memorial card given out at his memorial service here in the states.
This is one of his letters home written to his sister. He was at Camp Carrabelle in Florida when this was penned.
Letter courtesy of Heritage Hall, Calvin CollegeThis is his last letter, written two weeks and five days before his death.
Letter courtesy of Heritage Hall, Calvin College
Here is the notice the family received confirming Bernard's death, along with a letter from his commanding officer describing the circumstances in which he was killed.
Letters courtesy of Heritage Hall, Calvin College
This is a copy of his internment record at the Manila American Cemetery, Philippines.
Courtesy of Heritage Hall, Calvin College
This is Pvt. Steenwyk's headstone today. Several months ago a coworker of mine went to Manila to visit the cemetery. I told him I had a relative buried there, and asked him to take a picture of the headstone if he had time. It turned out that he did, and he took a bunch of pictures. He notified the cemetery staff before he visited that he'd like to visit that grave and why, and they actually put a small American flag in front the headstone to identify which one it was. They also rubbed a temporary dark material into the headstone's carved letters for contrast so that it would show up clearly in photographs. I'm especially grateful for the time my coworker and the cemetery staff spent so that my family can have these photographs of Pvt. Bernard Steenwyk's grave.
