A photo of Charlie in his Navy uniform

THE END OF WORLD WAR II

World War II ended seventy years ago with the surrender of Japan on August 14, 1945. To mark this historic event I will post letters that document the Miklo and Jondle Family’s contribution to the war effort. Steve’s younger brother, Pete, served in the Navy. His younger brother, Joe, entered the Army near the end of the war.

Betty’s younger brother, Charlie, entered the Navy in July 1945 just after his 17th birthday. Although war had ended in Europe in May 1945, the fight against Japan continued in the Pacific. Charlie was still in training in the U.S. when the war finally ended, but he did go to sea in the Pacific and witnessed the early atom bomb tests. I would say he was a brave 17-year old. 

Charlie saved letters that were sent to him during his time in the Navy from 1945 to 1949. Most of the letters were from his father Ed Jondle. Ed often wrote short notes in broken English. They were mostly about what work they were doing on the farm and the weather depending on the time of year. Planting in the spring, harvesting in the fall. 

There were several letters from Betty and even one from nine-year-old Pauline, to her Uncle Charlie. Betty’s letters are also mostly about daily activity on the farm and what the four kids--Pauline, Helen, Johnny and Jimmy--were up to (mischief on some days). 

Thanks to Pam (Jondle) Ploeger. In the process of closing out Charlie and Ramona’s house, Pam found Charlie’s collection of letters. She also found a photo album, letters, recipes and other documents that belonged to Helen Jondle (Charlie and Betty’s mother). I hope to organize these documents and post the more interesting here. 

Here is the first letter addressed to Charles Jondle A/S, Company 963, U. S. N.T. C., Great Lakes, Illinois, postmarked 4PM July 20, 1945, Lehigh, Iowa

Lehigh, IA
July 19, 1945

Dear Charlie,
I got your letter this morning. Steve is out milking and I just got done putting the kids to bed. I’m pretty sleepy myself but I have to wait for Steve and feed the calf. We have a new heifer. Steve sure gave her a dumb name. He calls her “Betty.”

It’s awful hot here today. I don’t know how I am going to sleep. But I guess I should be glad because we need some warm weather for the corn. To make things worse I’ve been canning beans today so, I had to keep a big fire going. I plan on canning peas tomorrow. 

Steve fixed the kids’ tricycle today and they really had a good time with it. 

Last Sunday night we went to the Bohemian Hall. We had quite a good time. Verne Smith stayed with the kids here. 

Well, we did get a new tire so I went to town last Saturday. I think it’s a good thing that you were driving when it blew out because, Steve would have drove a lot faster than you did. And can you imagine what Johnny did that night after we got home? He let the air out of it. We didn’t have another tire nor a pump so, we had to call up a neighbor to bring his pump over. 

Last night Helen got in the car and turned the key on and left it on all night. Steve had to pull the car with the tractor this morning to get it going. After he got home Jimmy got in there and turned it on so, this afternoon Steve had to pull the car again. That really made him mad.

He’ll be coming in so I better close before I go to sleep on the table here. 

With love, your sister,
Betty

A note about the letter: Betty refers to canning green beans and peas and how it heated up the kitchen, Steve and Betty's farm in Lehigh did not have gas or electric service. She cooked with a wood burning stove. So that made the house even hotter. She makes a reference to the Bohemian Hall, a large ballroom south of Fort Dodge built by the Czech community.  Steve and Betty often went there to dance polka and waltzes.