The attached three photos I received from my friend Mr. Bill Tromp, who is busy writing his first book on The History of Communication in Aruba, in Papiamento. Mr. Tromp is a retiree from Setar, our telephone company. Mr. Tromp received these photos from Mrs. Carla de Waal, widow of Herman Andries de Waal.

Mr. de Waal worked in the Telephone companies in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. In Aruba he worked in the Landsradio Dienst; in Bonaire he installed telephone apparatus and in Pietermaai and Punda in Curacao connecting cables for telephone installations.

The two similar photos were taken at Otrabanda, close to Brionplein. In the back is the West End Theatre. The third photo was taken at Punda, close to the Governor’s home. All three photos were taken between 1940 – 1945 by Mr. Herman Andries de Waal while he was in Curacao. The photos show a ceremony for some American soldiers as you can see the American flags covering the coffins in the jeeps. I assume that since the photos were taken close to the warf, most probably the remains of the U.S. soldiers were sent to their respective homes. This is just my guess.

Mr. & Mrs. De Waal arrived in Aruba in the beginning of March 1947. Mrs. de Waal was the first Island Secretary of Aruba.

The titles on the photos, say that the soldiers were killed.

We have yet to find more information, the dates and the names of the soldiers.

Mrs. Waal would like to receive these names. Therefore, if anyone can help us find more information, please let me know at dufikock@yahoo.com.

A couple of weeks ago I personally met and spoke with Mrs. De Waal in the library and she now lives in Oranjestad, Aruba.