William D. Van Loon

William D. Van Loon
Personal details
Birth name	Gerard Willem Van Loon
Born	16 January 1911 Munich, Germany
Died	1980
Nativity	Germany
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Arm / service	Field Artillery
ASN	01177676
Rank	Captain
Rank at Ritchie	Second Lieutenant
Camp Ritchie	Class 8 (17 May – 16 July 1943)
Section	5D

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William D. Van Loon (born Gerard Willem Van Loon, 16 January 1911 – 1980) was a United States Army captain and Ritchie Boy who trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, in Class 8.

Biography

Gerard Willem Van Loon was born on 16 January 1911 in Munich, Germany. He later used the name William D. Van Loon in United States records.

Van Loon trained at Camp Ritchie in Class 8 as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery. He became a naturalized U.S. Citizen on 14 June 1943 and served as a Ritchie Boy, including work as a translator and propaganda broadcaster. He later served as Theater Control Officer in Bavaria.

After the war he worked as an entertainer (dancer, actor, and director). In 1972 he published a biography of his father, Hendrik Willem Van Loon.

Research notes

• Also OB5, 8/28/43
• Class 8 IPW Ge

Gallery

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Technical record

Field	Imported value
Approx Age at Death	69
row_source	demographics

Timeline

• 16 January 1911 — Born in Munich, Germany as Gerard Willem Van Loon.
• 14 June 1943 — Became naturalized U.S. citizen.
• During World War II — Served as a Ritchie Boy; translator and propaganda broadcaster; Theater Control Officer in Bavaria.
• 1972 — Published a biography of his father, Hendrik Willem Van Loon.

Sources

• Dan Gross research archive (miscellaneous notes; not uploaded): NOTES entry “Military Governors” — Ritchie Boy Gerard Van Loon as Theater Control Officer in Bavaria
• Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
• Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
• NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
• 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
• Dan Gross, Timeline of Gerard W. VAN LOON for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
• Dan Gross, Timeline of VAN LOON, Gerard W. for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: GERARD W. VAN LOON.doc)