John Richard Zeutenhorst

3132nd Signal Service Co : 2nd Platoon

ASN#37475959

Born 1924 in IA, Died 2019

Other residence(s): Alton, IA; Orange City, IA

United States Army, European Theatre of Operations

Notes: "Zoot"; great baseball player

Source: W. Anderson Notes; 3132 Caption List; Ghost Army roster by state; Post War Sonic List from Bill Anderson; 3132 Pine Camp Photo Names

John Zeutenhorst was born on November 25, 1924 in Hull, IA, the youngest of five children. His father was a farmer, and later a laborer on a sewer project. His mother, and all four of his grandparents, had been born in the Netherlands.

John graduated from Alton High School in Alton, IA, where he was known as "Johnny," and registered for the draft the day after his 18th birthday, on November 26, 1942. He enlisted on March 19, 1943 and was eventually assigned to the 3132 Signal Service Co. where his nickname was "Zoot," and where he had a reputation as a great baseball player. He served in Europe with the unit as a platoon commander, earning a promotion to SGT in the spring of 1944.

A newspaper article in October, 1944 quotes from a letter home. "I can't state where I am at present but it's not France any more. The only language I can speak outside of English (Dutch?) sure comes in handy here."

A 1945 newspaper article describes a letter he wrote to his parents in February, stating that "the sweater he has just received comes in very handy with all the cold weather. He had made himself a pair of mittens out of an old blanket. Says he 'may go into the tailoring business' when he comes back to Alton. He wants to thank all his friends, including the Legion Auxiliary, for the Christmas cards and gifts, most of which arrived in good condition."

John was discharged on November 17, 1945 and returned to Iowa, where he married Phyllis Eileen Oliver on May 31, 1947. The couple settled in Orange City*, IA where he first worked as a carpenter, and later as a butcher in a meat market. He continued to play baseball for the Orange City club after he returned home, fracturing a kneecap in 1950 sliding into home plate. He also was a league-leading golfer.

Within a few years he took a job with the Sioux County Engineer's Office, and worked there until he retired.

John and Phyllis became the parents of three children: Janet, Timothy, and David. Sadly, David died in a car accident in 1972. The young man was a senior in high school and president of the student council at the time.

After he retired from the Engineer's Office, John helped with maintenance for 25 years at Northwestern College in Orange City, where Phyllis served as comptroller. The couple spent 13 winters in Ocala, FL.

John was a member of the First Reformed Church in Orange City, where he served as an elder and a Sunday School teacher. He was a member of the Orange City volunteer fire department for 30 years, serving as secretary in 1971 and as acting assistant fire chief in 1972. He was also a member of the Pressman-Kosters American Legion, and had served on the Orange City Council.

John with Ghost Army ambassador Madeline Christianson, June 2019. (Madeline was on her way home to Utah from the National History Day finals in the DC area.)

In 2009, the couple moved to Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Community in Orange City. Phyllis died there in 2009 but John would live another 10 years; his obituary mentions his "special friend" June Vanden Berge.

John died on July 30, 2019 at the age of 94. He is buried at West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City.

*Orange City (first called "Holland") was a Dutch Reformed community, named for the Royal House of Orange.