S/Sgt. Arthur Harris Barsema was born on December 1, 1919, in Ortonville, Minnesota, to Ralph Barsema and Clara Postema-Barsema. With his five brothers and four sisters he was raised at 1914 South Ninth Avenue in Maywood, Illinois. It is known that his father passed away in 1934. Arthur was a 1937 graduate of Proviso Township High School and worked at the Motorola Radio Company as a store clerk. On July 1, 1941, he registered with Selective Service and named his mother as his contact person.
On October 18, 1941, he was inducted into the US Army in Chicago and sent to Camp Robinson, Arkansas, for basic training and issued the serial number was 36, 302, 956. At some point he was assigned to Company I, 377th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division. His division landed in France on September 15, 1944, and went into combat during the Battle of Moselle in October 1944. In November, the 95th took part in the Battle of Metz.
The Germans on December 16, 1944, launched the Ardennes Offensive on December 16, 1944, which was known as the Battle of the Bulge. From military records, it known that Arthur was killed when he was hit by a shrapnel fragment in the abdomen on December 18, 1944. near Fraulautern, Germany. In a shelter half, he was buried at the US Military Cemetery, Limay, France, in Plot A, Row 2, Grave 41. It is not known when his mother learned of his death.
After the war, the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC, his mother was informed as to where Arthur was buried and of the location of his grave in the cemetery.
1 May 1946
Mrs. Clara Barsema
1911 S. 19th Avenue
Maywood, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Barsema
The War Department is most desirous that you be furbished information regarding the burial location of your son, the late Sergeant Arthur H. Barsema, A.S.N. 36 302 956.
The records of this office discloses that his remains are interred in the U. S. Military Cemetery Limay, France, plot A, row 2, grave 41.
This cemetery is located sixteen miles east of St. Mihiel and fifteen miles north of Toul, both in France, and is under the constant care and supervision of the United States personnel.
It is anticipated that, in the near future, the War Department will receive authority to return the remains of your so, at government expenses, to the final resting place which you select. When the necessary arrangements have been completed, this office will, without any action on your part, give full information and solicit your detailed desires.
Please accept my sincere sympathy in the loss of your son.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
T. B. Larkin
Major General
The Quartermaster General
She was also informed that the Quartermaster Corps would soon have permission to return the dead to the United States, and when it had received permission, she would receive information on her options for his final burial. On April 14, 1947, she received a photo of the cemetery from the QMC.
The OQMG sent her another letter, dated July 18, 1947, providing her with her options for Arthur’s final burial. She was asked to fill-out and return an enclosed form to the OQMG indicating where she wanted Arthur buried. The completed form was received by the the OQMG on August 19, 1947, indicating she wanted Arthur buried in the United States.
By train, on May 10, 1947, from Limay, France, his casket was sent to the American Graves Registration Service, Antwerp, Belgium. His casket was placed on the USAT Lawrence Victory on June 7, 1948. The ship arrived in the New York Port of Entry on June 28th. By train, with a military escort, his casket was sent to the Quartermaster Corps’ Distribution Center #8, in Chicago, and arrived on June 30th. In a military hearse, his casket was taken to the Paul W. Sanne Funeral Home in Maywood, on August 2nd. The next day, August 3, 1948, S/Sgt. Arthur H. Barsema was buried in the Oakridge Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
