Find

Shirt

Catalog Number
1990.15.19
Description
Long sleeved  WW II uniform shirt belonging to Colonel Henry A. Geerds.  9 buttons(1 missing) label "The Captain Shirt Shaped to Fit". Button-down shoulder straps to hold Sam Brown belt.
History
This item belonged to the donor's father, Colonel Henry A. Geerds.

Colonel Geerds was born on 8-1-1894. At the age of 14 his family moved to Holland, MI. In 1917 Henry married Jean Brunick. They lived in Holland at 588 Central Avenue (1938 and 1960 city directories).

Henry served in the National Guard during World War I. After this experience he was determined to have someplace where he could properly train young men to become soldiers. So, in 1921 he organized Company D (126th Infantry), the National Guard unit in Holland, MI.

During World War II Henry served as chief of personnel and administration in the South Pacific. He would later help found the Holland American Legion post. In 1945 Henry co-founded Holland Hitch.

Henry passed away in Holland on 8-2-1982.
Gift of
Beebe, Mrs William