CPL Henry Reamsma

Today we honor and remember CPL Henry Reamsma of the 101st Airborne Division.

Corporal Henry Reamsma of Headquarters & Service Battery, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (PFAB), 101st Airborne Division, was born in Alaska, Caledonia Township, Kent County, Michigan, to Frederick and Jessie (Van der Ark) Reamsma on December 11, 1921. He had one sister, Florence, and four brothers, Gerald, Edward, James A., and Frederick Reamsma Jr.

Henry registered for the draft at Bigelow Field, Grand Rapids, Michigan, on February 16, 1942. At the time, he was employed by the Nash Kelvinator Corporation, a company that manufactured cars and refrigerators, as well as aeronautic components and helicopters during World War II. He married Virginia B. Medaris that same year, and their marriage was blessed with a son, Larry Douglas Reamsma, born while his father was probably overseas, on January 20, 1944.

Henry Reamsma enlisted in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on October 17, 1942, and would be assigned to the 377th PFAB.

CPL Reamsma was a member of a liaison party on one of the last days of the Battle of Bulge. On January 14, 1945, he took off in a jeep with LTC John Stopka and two others for an inspection tour of the frontline position of Stopka’s 3rd Battalion, 502nd PIR, at Bois Jacques. During that ride, someone else had asked for air support at the frontline because of the threat of advancing German tanks. Not only were the Germans attacked, but the American positions were also strafed by their own aircraft by mistake.

Sadly, a 500-pound bomb was dropped very close to the jeep, killing LTC Stopka and 1LT Mitchell outright. CPL Lyle, the fourth person in the liaison party, was evacuated but died later that day of his wounds. There was no trace of CPL Reamsma’s body, but later an unidentified torso and legs were found. His badly mutilated body was identified by a letter he carried with him and from clothing marks.

Corporal Henry Reamsma died at Bois Jacques, Belgium, on January 14, 1945, at 23 years of age.

Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅

CPL Reamsma was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery Grand Failly in France, at Plot K, Row 8, Grave 198. He would later be reburied at the American War Cemetery Luxembourg, Hamm, Luxembourg, at Plot H, Row 10, Grave 49. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart Medal.

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Henry.

Lest we forget! 🇺🇸

The sources used for this article are known to the author and available on request.