PFC William Oosterhouse 36470563
PFC William Oosterhouse 36470563 US Army. He was born on Jan 28, 1919 in Grand Rapids Michigan, the son of Henry Oosterhouse and Mary Dykstra Oosterhouse. He graduated from Christian High School in 1937. In 1940 he was 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighed 140 pounds. From 1940 – 1944 he was employed at Manufactures Supply Company in Grand Rapids Michigan. Before the war he worked in the stock room and his duties included the storing and requisitioning of all stock. For the 2 years before entering the US Army he was working in the main office in the sales department. He handled all incoming orders. Took orders by phone, processed orders and requestions and maintained records and files. He married Marie Split Oosterhouse on Aug 13, 1941 they had 4 kids in their marriage 2 before the war and 2 after the war.
He entered the US Army on July 19, 1944 in Detroit Michigan. He served in D Company, 5th Training Bn, at Camp Wheeler Georgia. By December 1944 he was serving at Fort George Meade Maryland. He left the United States for Europe on Jan 6, 1945 and arrived in Europe on Jan 18, 1945. He was assigned as a replacement to 4th platoon Mortar section, F Company, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. He served in 2 Campaigns with Fox Company, including the company’s worst fighting of the war during the 1st 2 weeks of April 1945. He was one of the 63 men from Fox Company, that was not wounded during the Battle of Buchhof and Stine Am Kocher April 2- 12 1945. But unfortunately, he was severely wounded on April 15, 1945. He received shell fragments in the left leg and left arm. This resulted in him having his left leg amputated and his left arm was also permanently damaged by the shell fragments. He received his the Purple Heart Medal, on May 7, 1945 at the 67th General Hospital.
He left Europe on June 21, 1945 and returned to the United states July 8, 1945. At the time of his discharge he was 5 foot 9 inches tall weighed 127 pounds had Blue eyes and brown hair. He was discharged on May 27, 1946. Oosterhouse was awarded The Bronze Star Medals BSM, The Combat Infantry Badge, the Purple Heart Medal, the American Theater of operations Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater of operations Medal with 2 stars, the Good Conduct Medal, World War Two Victory Medal. He died on September 17, 1997 in Grand Rapids Michigan.
US, World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
63rd Division Records
Records and information from his family Brian Vander Meulen
U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2020