Groendyke, Jacob W.
edited by Eden Biskin
Mss: 
https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3D79F4T
Biographical note
Jacob W. Groendyke was born in Monmouth Junction, NJ, in 1891 to parents Jacob J. Groendyke and Christiana Hutchinson. He attended New Brunswick High School in addition to Rutgers, where he graduated as a member of the class of 1912.
Prior to the war, Groendyke served as a clerk in the accounting department of the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. in New York City. He entered the war as a non-commissioned officer with Company “E” in the 312th Infantry, part of the 78th Division. His position was in the intelligence section. His letters briefly describe the nightly “airplane exhibition[s]” used to gather intelligence about German positions. Groendyke was a first lieutenant by the time he left France from the port of Brest on December 24, 1918. After demobilization, he returned to American Telephone and Telegraph, where he continued until his retirement in 1956 as a vice president of accounting.
Groendyke’s letters of July 1918 have an elegiac quality to them. As nearly as we can tell, his division would have been in the vicinity of Oudezeele, France, close to the Flemish border, together with the First British Army. This would have been a staging area for an eventual troop movement south to Arras. Thomas Meehan’s history confirms Groendyke’s account of constant air fights, high-explosive shells, and moonlight bombings. This part of the country would have been evacuated by residents, hence the abandoned livestock and unharvested crops Groendyke observes. Perhaps it is the book-keeper in him that can’t help but remark on the war’s extravagant waste of animals, food, and materials, not to mention human lives.
Sources
- Obituaries, The Daily Record (Long Branch, New Jersey), Monday, Mar 12, 1973, p. 9.
- Thomas F. Meehan, History of the Seventy-Eighth Division in the World War, 1917-18-19 (New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1921).
Jacob W. Groendyke to Earl Reed Silvers, August 5, 1917
Newark N.J.
August 5.
Mr. ,
In reply to your query received today: I am drafted in Division No. 8, City of Newark.
I’ll be glad if you can do anything toward getting me placed in a department where I will fit. I of course expect to gain some preference on account of having had training in tactics and rifle range work and am wondering if a letter from Lieut. would be of any value. If you believe it would and know where he is stationed I’d be glad to hear from you.
With best personal regards, I am
very truly yours,
.
Earl Reed Silvers to Jacob W. Groendyke, September 6, 1917
September 6, 1917
Mr. Jacob W. Groendyke
139 Wakeman Ave.,
Newark, N.J.
Dear Jake:—
I am sending your name to Washington with the recommendation that you be placed in some form of work for which your college course has fitted you. We have lost track of so I am afraid we cannot induce him to write a letter for you. I doubt very much if it would do much good.at [sic] the present time.
Sincerely yours,
Jacob W. Groendyke to Earl Reed Silvers, October 31, 1917
TRENTON, N.J.
OCT 31
7 AM
1917
DIX BRANCH
EARL REED SILVERS
ALUMNI HOUSE
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.
Company "C" — 312 Infantry — 1st Battalion
10-30-17
Dear Reed:
Your forwarded letter received today. I was drafted from 8 dist [?] Newark came here Sept. 29 [?], was made corporal October 27. Your War Service Bureau shows fine spirit and originality I’m sure we all will receive much benefit from it.
Reed here’s something you can do right now for me, viz. have 2 good seats at the game with on Nov. 3 reserved for me at Registrars office till 2 P.M. on that day. I’ll call before then and pay for same—
Best personal regards,
J.W. Groendyke.
Earl Reed Silvers to Jacob W. Groendyke, November 1, 1917
November 1st. 1917.
Mr. J. W. Groendyke,
Company C.,
312th. Infantry,
First Battery,
Camp Dix, N.J.
My dear Jake:—
Thank you for your good word about the War Service Bureau. I am taking up the matter of the tickets this morning and will have them reserved for you in the Registrar’s Office until 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon. If, by any chance, the office is close [sic], I shall be waiting outside the field at the main entrance and will have the tickets.
Hastily yours,
Jacob W. Groendyke to Earl Reed Silvers, November 11, 1917
TRENTON, N.J.
NOV 11
7 PM
1917
DIX BRANCH
THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS
Earl Reed Silvers Esq.
New Brunswick
N.J.
Rutgers College
11/11/17
Dear Reed,
I was out of luck to some degree Sat. I arrived at the gate at 2:30 and inquired at the window and of General [?] about the tickets and you. They were both chock full of ignorance. However I succeeded in buying two seats where the view was not half bad.
You did all you could I’m sure and I do appreciate it a lot.
The game was a dazzler. The letters are coming regularly, and are a good binder between the boys and the college I’m sure.
Jake.
Groendyke
Jacob W. Groendyke to Earl Reed Silvers, May 18, 1918
TRENTON, N.J.
MAY 18
8 PM
1918 DIX BRANCH
THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS
Earl Reed Silvers Esq.
New Brunswick
N.J.
Rutgers College
5/18/18
Please discontinue all mail to me until further notice. Things have been so dizzy that all good intentions in regard to keeping you informed of my whereabouts have failed.
J W Groendyke.
Jacob W. Groendyke to Earl Reed Silvers, June 8, 1918
SOLDIER’S MAIL NO POSTAGE
NECESSARY.
Soldiers Mail.
WASHINGTON D.C.
JUN 8
4 30 PM
1918
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
THIS SIDE FOR ADDRESS ONLY.
PASSED BY THE CHIEF MILITARY CENSOR 3 WASHINGTON
Earl Reed Silvers
In Rutgers College
New Brunswick
N.J.
THE SHIP ON WHICH I SAILED HAS ARRIVED SAFELY OVERSEAS. Name J W Groendyke
Organization
American Expeditionary Forces.
Jacob W. Groendyke to Jacob J. Groendyke, July 5, 1918
July 5, 1918.
As I sit here in the scanty straw of this evacuated barn, it calls to mind the song “Fiddle and I” waking up the cats and owls, well there are no owls here, the nights are not quiet enough for their kind of work. But as the saying is over here, “its [sic] not too bad.” In all the area here abouts the villages and farm houses are shelled to brick dust as at this point a very determined enemy drive was followed up by a vigorous counter attack, so what ever left standing the Allied shells reduced to dust. Around the ruins of the old houses we sometimes greet the old house dog who has wandered back to his old home, and a few pigs or chickens which could not be carried away are left at some places. Farm implements and household goods lie in disorder around the premises just as the staunch [?] people left as they fled from before the invader. Splendid crops of shoulder high, wheat oats and hops are standing in the fields. I wonder who will gather them.
Flowers grow by the roadside in spite of the tread of the hob—nailed shoes and in the gardens, currants hang in scarlet clusters waiting in the hand of a sex that is no where seen. A woman’s voice or a child’s laughter are sounds that are never heard in the advance zones.
As far as the eye can reach there is nought but ruins. But there is no lack for entertainment here for while I write this sentence probably 10 or 15 big shells go whizzing over some goin’ and some comin’. They say that every time an American artilleryman fires a round he repeats “Now Kaiser count your men.”
Yesterday the 4th was duly celebrated here. All was decently quiet till nine o’clock in the morning when Jerry let go a perfect hail storm of shells of all calibers. In every barrage of this order it is interesting to see how a certain sector is isolated and boxed off, every road of approach is laid off to a nicety with shells. Well everybody back as far as . stood to with full enjoyment yesterday, in the midst of it mixed in a lot of gas too–He’s thoughtful. After about 40 minutes of his spree he resumed the position of “as you were.”
— 2 —
Every night from about six to nine we have an airplane exhibition on planes go over observing and then after we quit he usually sends over one of two while all the anti aircraft within range pop away – doing little damage aside from putting a lot of big black ink spots on a nice clean blue sky. A few days ago in a fight though we saw a Jerry come down in flames. I’m surely getting a lot of my old intelligence work up here and it’s not seemed handed either. Its [sic] nice and cool here and I’m feeling fine.
Jacob W. Groendyke to Earl Reed Silvers, July 8, 1918
For God, For King & For Country.
Y·M·C·A
H.M.FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
July 8 1918
Dear Reed.—
So far as I can recall our extensive correspondence has not been reopened since I notified you that a change was about to take place in my address. Well since then we have become somewhat widely separated. We had the usual “inconveniences” of a troop ship coming over, however we have been quite thoroughly inoculated against fretfulness and fatigue so we enjoyed the trip a lot.
Right after getting clear of harbor gun crews were appointed to work with the gunmen of the boat. Since I looked more like a gunman than a gunner they chose me for Sergeant of the crew and gun trainer.
For God, For King & For Country.
Y·M·C·A
H.M.FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
We had only one affair with Subs. This occurred on a calm Sunday night just after mess time. Several boats attacked our fleet but none of us was hit. One or two of the enemy were sunk by depth charges. When one is below decks and hears the reverberations of these charges against the side plates of the ship and he has not experienced the sensation before: it immediately makes him think of a cold salt bath.
We are in a very pretty section of so far as natural charm is concerned. It has its drawbacks in a great scarcity of wood and water. You are probably well fed up on scenery as that is about all the poor soldier can tell
For God, For King & For Country.
Y·M·C·A
H.M.FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
in his letters, so I’ll not burden you with descriptions of wild rose and honeysuckle hedges, and wheat fields mottled with great large scarlet poppies.
Here every building is battered flat, its occupants have fled, leaving a great part of their household goods and farm implements. Its [sic] quite pathetic to see the old house dog and the store cat come back and beg food from the soldier as he sits in front of the great, wide, open fire place in which the ancient iron kettle swings. How many peaceful Christmas logs must have burned in that great chimney place as a merry crowd assembled around in the stone floored kitchen!
For God, For King & For Country.
Y·M·C·A
H.M.FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
Crops of splendid wheat, oats, rye and hops stand in the field and as I write this our are arguing with as to who shall harvest these crops. The fine courage and hopeful spirit of our splendid allies here, however, leave me but one conclusion.
I’m extremely well, army rations and billets of various descriptions (This abode is a ) seem to be no wise injurious so far. I’ve been sent to some more British schools here for instruction in my work, Intelligence. This I enjoy greatly. It keeps one’s mind alive when conditions are sometimes very dull.
My address Reed, is [Company] “E” of the same
(over)
Regiment as in Camp Dix. Simply put A.E.F via N.Y., and it will get me.
Out in no man’s land Friday I “ratted” a few dead ones and found a couple of characteristic which I believe I can mail, if so you will get one soon for your collection. How’s the College Reed? and how is the War Bureau director and his family?
With all best wishes—
Jacob W Groendyke '12
Earl Reed Silvers to Jacob W. Groendyke, July 31, 1918
July 31, 1918.
Corp. Jacob W. Groendyke,
Co E, 312th Infantry,
A.E.F. via N.Y.
Dear Jake;–
It was surely good to hear from you again. We haven’t had much to do with each other since that football game last fall, and your letter was very welcome. I hope that you are receiving the War Bureau circulars and an occasional Quarterly. If not, drop me a line and I’ll ship some to you.
The college is going along slowly these days. We have only a fair outlook for next year, but that is to be expected. The War Service Bureau continues to be busy, and the Silvers family is O.K.
Good luck to you, Jake. I am looking forward to the time when I can see you here on the campus again. May it come speedily.
Cordially yours,
Jacob W. Groendyke to Earl Reed Silvers, October 1, 1918
J.W. Groendyke
US. Army
soldiers mail.
POST CARD
U.S ARMY POST OFFICE 10 1
18
A.E.F. PASSED AS CENSORED A. 2923
OK. J.W. Groendyke
2nd Lt.
Earl Reed Silvers
Rutgers College
New Brunswick, N.J.
Sept. 29, 1918
Dear Reed.
Am resting this card on the July Quarterly which has been greatly enjoyed. Presume football is receiving its share of attention now. We had a game arranged here with teams having a lot of All A’s but a schedule difficulty interfered. Have been to school “as usual” and am now commissioned. Saw two months ago, and yesterday. Every thing is going fine. Will you give my best regards to Registrar ?
Sincerely yours,
Jacob W. Groendyke.
O.K.
J.W. Groendyke.
2nd Lt. U.S. Army.
Howard H. Groendyke to Earl Reed Silvers, October 17, 1918
WAR DEPARTMENT
EIGHTH DISTRICT SELECTIVE SERVICE BOARD
LEGAL TITLE "LOCAL BOARD FOR
DIVISION No. 8, CITY OF NEWARK
STATE OF NEW JERSEY"
ELIOT SCHOOL
721 SUMMER AVENUE
NEWARK, N.J.
October 17, 1918.
Mr. E. R. Silvers.
Dear Sir:—
By request of my brother Jacob W. Groendyke, I am forwarding to you under separate cover a belt buckle taken by him off a dead hun in no mans land on July 5, 1918. He was there to gain experience in scouting. On July 25 he wrote that due to his performance on the field he had been picked with 34 others to attend Officers Training School, which would probably last through Aug., Sept. and Oct. It is the 3rd series for the First Army Corps. I had word from him two weeks ago and he was still there. I hope he may be spared to return and tell us the details of his experience and of the buckle.
Respectfully,
139 Wakeman Ave.
Newark, N.J.
His address
Jacob Walter Groendyke
Co. #4
A.P.O. #714
American Expeditionary Force
Via New York
Earl Reed Silvers to Howard H. Groendyke, October 30, 1918
October 30 1918
Mr. Howard H. Groendyke,
139 Wakeman Ave
Newark, N.J.
Dear Mr. Groendyke:
I acknowledge with appreciation your letter of October 17. The buckle from your brother has been received and is a splendid addition to our collection in the college library. I have heard very frequently from Jake, and in his letters he seems to be both well and happy. It is good to know that he has won his commission.
Very sincerely yours,
ERS/HWG
Earl Reed Silvers to Jacob W. Groendyke, March 28, 1919
March 28th, 1919.
Mr. Jacob W. Groendyke,
139 Wakeman Ave.,
Newark, N.J.
Dear Jake:—
I am glad to know that you are out of the service, and once more back in the good old U.S.A.
Be sure to drop into see me at the earlieset possible moment, as I am anxious to have a chat with you.
With kindest regards.
Cordially yours,
ERS/b
Earl Reed Silvers to Jacob J. Groendyke, May 23, 1919
May 23, 1919.
Mr. Jacob J. Groendyke,
Monmouth Junction, N.J.
My dear Mr. :—
Rutgers College is planning to publish a book which will contain letters from our alumni and undergraduates who saw service in the Army or Navy of the United States. If you have any letters from Mr. Jacob W. Groendyke which you think may be of interest in such a publication, we shall be grateful for them. Anything you send us will be carefully preserved and returned to you within two weeks of their receipt.
We are very anxious to make our War Book as complete a record as possible, and will appreciate your cooperation.
Sincerely yours,
ERS/b
Assistant to the President.
Earl Reed Silvers to Jacob J. Groendyke, June 13, 1919
June 13th, 1919.
Mr. Jacob J. Groendyke,
Monmouth Junction,
New Jersey.
My dear Mr. Groendyke:—
Thank you very much for the enclosed letter from your son, which is very interesting.
I am returning it to you herewith.
Very sincerely yours,
ERS/b
Assistant to the President.