Alaska Highway. Company H&S. Medical Corps.
Born: 4 December 1906, St Louis, Missouri. Died: 29 May 1980, Boonville, Cooper County, Missouri. Enlisted: 5 January 1942. Discharged: 5 February 1946.
He attended Washington University at St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated a Doctor of Denistry.
First Lt. Jonas was with the H&S Company Medical Corps of the segregated 97th Engineer Regiment. They landed at Valdez, Alaska on 29 April 1942. Three feet of snow covered the ground. The 97th Engineers built the northern section of the Alaska Highway.
First Lt. Jonas was with H&S Company from April 1942 to June 1943. He was promoted to Captain in June 1943.
His father was Johanness F. Jonas (1849-1911). He was born in Germany and he was a minister of the Independent Evangelical Church. His mother was Elizabeth A. Surkamp (1870 -1950). She was born in Missouri and her parents were born in Germany. After her husband died, she worked as a nurse for a private family.
John married Charlotte Dean Bowie on 30 March 1942 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Serial #O-302035