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| | CORP. ROY VAN TUBERGEN
Serial No. 2,044,770
514 Woodlawn St., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Was inducted May 24, 1918.
At Camp Coetquidan Captain Cherrill promoted Van Tubergen to Gunnery Corporal, in which capacity he served throughout the existence of the Battery. He, along with Corp. Sprague, Corp. VandeBunte, Corp. Hill and Corp. Kuchta, received the one-day pass to visit Rennes, thirty-five miles distant from our training area. They had a great time enjoying the sights of Brittany. On their return to the Battery they expressed to the boys their appreciation of the wonderful works of art in the museum at that place. In a church they visited the beauty of the altar and the interior architecture impressed them, as it had been built in mediaeval times. They liberally distributed postal card pictures of points of interest at that place for the boys to send home.
It took them four hours to reach the city on the curious little narrow-gauge railroad. The train had a starting time but no schedule to arrive on. The engine was fueled with wood, which the engineer and fireman would get off and replenish from time to time from timber on the roadside. When these two would come to an opportune place for vinous refreshment they would go over and leisurely get a drink of wine, much to the envy of their passengers. This is the description of a typical French train in Brittany.
At the Tautecourt position he, like all the Gunnery Corporals, pitched in and helped their cannoneers in bringing their piece into position in full view of enemy observers.
The rank of the men in our sacrifice position was subordinated to the work which must he done.
He possessed sound moral fiber and he had the spirit of helpfulness.
Van Tubergen was of a quiet, unobtrusive disposition, adhering strictly to duty in the minutest detail. |