Kors (Cornelius) De Vos, 96

February 25, 2017

Kors (Cornelius) De Vos, 96, of Woodcrest Villa, Lancaster, PA and formerly of Montville, NJ, was born in Hardinxveld, The Netherlands in 1920. He was the 6th of ten children born to Jan Nijs (John) De Vos of Geissendam, The Netherlands and Korstiana (Christiana) Blokland De Vos of Hardinxveld.

Cornelius was five months old when his parents immigrated to the U.S., arriving at Ellis Island in December 1920. Although he grew up in a large family of modest means, Cornelius recalled that it was a good life. He had many fond memories of the time he spent exploring near the Third (Yantecaw) River, located near his childhood home in Clifton, NJ.

Cornelius attended School No. 5, Clifton High School, and Eastern Academy, before entering military service in 1942. He received training at Fort Dix, Fort Bragg, Camp Jordan, Fort George C. Meade, and Camp Livingston and then left for overseas duty in 1943. With the Field Artillery, he saw action in New Guinea, Battan, Corregidor, and Luzon. He also served in Hawaii.

De Vos was a combat veteran of the U.S. Army, having served with the Signal Corp during World War II, in the 38th Infantry Division. He completed 20 months overseas, in Hawaii and New Guinea before entering the campaign to liberate the Philippines. He was deployed to the Pacific Theater in December 1944, when his division was sent into Leyte, Philippines to support clearing and security operations.

On 29 January 1945, the 38th Infantry took part in the combat landing against the Japanese held Southern Zambales Province on the island of Luzon. Cpl. De Vos was a member of a forward observer party with the assault wave of a landing force, when they became pinned down by rifle and machine gun fire. With many casualties occurring all around him, Cpl. De Vos, Radio Operator T/4, worked continuously under fire in order to relay messages and artillery adjustments by radio to his artillery battalion. As a result of these adjustments, the artillery succeeded in screening the assault company with smoke, enabling them to hold the otherwise untenable position and eventually gain their objective.

The 38th Infantry Division also took part in the operations to clear Zig Zag Pass, on the Bataan Peninsula, and to secure Corregidor and Manila Bay. In recognition of their contributions in clearing the Philippines, the 38th Infantry Division received the nickname “The Avengers of Bataan”.

Cpl. De Vos, Radio Operator with Battery A, 150th Field Artillery Battalion of the 38th, “Avengers of Bataan” Division was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on the Island of Caballo in Manila Bay, Luzon, Philippine Islands. The citation reported,

“Technician De Vos, while acting as radio operator in a forward observer party with the leading elements of our landing forces showed great courage in establishing communications under difficult conditions. Technician De Vos, while occupying Hill 1 with the leading elements, who were pinned down by heavy enemy rifle and machine-gun fire, continued to set up and operate with complete disregard for his personal safety, his radio, despite heavy casualties all around him. His actions resulted in friendly artillery being adjusted, which silenced the withering hostile fire. The later adjustment of artillery smoke enabled our forces to make substantial advances. Technician De Vos’s bravery reflects great credit upon himself and the service.”

In addition to the Bronze Star, De Vos was entitled to wear the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic Pacific ribbons with three campaign stars for the New Guinea, Leyte, and Luzon campaigns; and the Philippine Liberation ribbon with one battle star.

After the war ended, De Vos returned to New Jersey. In a small family ceremony, he married Louise Aertgeerts in 1946. Louise is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Aertgeerts of Hawthorne, NJ. She is a graduate of Hawthorne High School and Drakes’ Business College. Together they raised two sons, Jerry and Neal.

Cornelius worked for the next 40 years as a partner in a plant nursery and greenhouse business with his father, John, and brother, Herman, at John De Vos & Sons (later De Vos Nursery) in Clifton, NJ.

Throughout his life, Cornelius devoted the full measure of his efforts to both his family and a successful family business. He and Louise enjoyed traveling and returned to his birthplace in The Netherlands several times. In 1986, after the death of his father, he and his brother closed the business and retired. Cornelius was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He took great pleasure in the time he spent with his grandchildren, Jeffrey and Joshua.

In 2006, Cornelius and Louise moved to Woodcrest Villa in Lancaster, PA. He was an avid reader and armchair bird watcher. He loved word puzzles, silly jokes, and his frequent visits with the welcoming staff at Lyndon’s Diner. He was an exceptionally gentle and kind man, who truly embodied the spirit of selflessness. He will be dearly missed by all who knew this good man.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Louise De Vos of Lancaster, PA; his son, Jerry (Valerie) De Vos of Sarasota, FL; his son, Neal (Dawn) De Vos of Watsonville, CA; his grandsons Jeffrey De Vos (Allison Dibiase) of Sparta, NJ and Joshua (Erika) De Vos of Clifton, NJ; his sister, Wilhelmina De Vos Pfeifer of Lincoln Park, NJ; his sister-in-law Helen De Vos of Sarasota, FL; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cornelius is predeceased by his father, John, 1888-1985; his mother, Christiana, 1888-1977; and his brothers Gerrit, 1910-1911; Gerard, 1912-1977; William, 1913-2002; Barney, 1915-1988; Herman, 1916-1993; John, 1924-2004; Peter, 1927-1930; and Peter, 1930-2013.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in the memory of Cornelius De Vos to Mennonite Home Benevolent Care (1520 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601; http://www.mennonitehome.org/giving/) or The Salvation Army.