Thanks for the web site. My Grandfather, Private Jacob Hamstra, was a survivor. I remember one February night I was playing checkers with him and he told me about a February night a long time ago when his ship was torpedoed. He said he thought about this experience every time he heard the hymn, "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder," remembering the first roll call after the survivors made it to shore. He lived many years near Newaygo, Michigan and passed away in his early 90's.

Tom Hamstra

June 20, 2007

Jacob A. Hamstra - Zeeland, Michigan

Army Rank: Private (1918).

Assigned Unit: Sanitary Squad No. 1, 32nd Division

Army Serial Number:

Inducted:

Promoted:

Army Discharge: 1919

Remarks:  Overseas Jan. 24, 1918 – 1919

Torpedoed on the Transport Tuscania Feb. 5, 1918

   Member of the Tuscania Survivors Association (1938)

   Birth Name: Joeke A. Hamstra

   Address: Olive Twp., Ottawa County, MI (1900) (1910)

   Address: Garfield, Newaygo County, Michigan (1920)

   Address: Fremont, Newaygo County, Michigan (1938)

Fathers Name: Anne Hamstra

  (b. July 23, 1867 Ferwerderadeel, Netherlands)

  (d. April 16, 1948 Holland, MI)

Mothers Name: Grietje Vellema (Hamstra)

  (b. Jan. 12, 1867 Netherlands) (d. Nov. 23, 1934 Ottawa Co., MI)

Brothers: Frank, Derk, Johnes, Anne, John, Theodore, and Gerrit

Sisters: Jantje, Gertrude, Agness, and Bertha Hamstra  

Civilian Occupation:

Born: Dec. 3, 1892 Olive Twp., Ottawa County, MI

Died: April 1983 Newaygo, Michigan (age 90)

Cemetery:

Plot: