Leslie Charles Jonas (1909 - 1997)

Born 5 May 1909 in Garwood, Union County, New Jersey, United States

Died 25 Sep 1997 at age 88 in New Jersey, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Harry Ide [send private message]

Biography

Leslie was born on 5 May 1909, in Garwood, Union County, New Jersey, to Stephen Jonas and Helen Tomoskaya. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

In 1920, he was living with his family in Kenilworth, Union County, New Jersey. He was in school. ^[1]

He finished nine years of school. ^[3]

In 1930, he was living in Kenilworth, Union County, New Jersey. He was a factory laborer, but was not at work on the last working day. ^[6]

In July 1934, he was one of the pallbearers for Frederick Martinoff (brother of Helen, whom he later married). He had to escort Frances Tiets away from the cemetery. ^{[7] [8]}

On 26 March 1937, he applied for a social security number. He was living on 8th Street, Kenilworth, Union County, New Jersey. He worked for Kenilworth Manufacturing Company, on Monroe Avenue, Kenilworth, New Jersey. ^[2]

He enlisted in the US Army on 26 June 1941, and apparently served for 3 months and 7 days. He then apparently served in the Enlisted Reserve Corps for 3 months and 6 days. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

Helen Martinoff and her mother visited him in camp. ^[12]

On 7 January 1942, he was recalled to service in the US Army, at Fort Dix, Burlington County, New Jersey (near Trenton). He had been working in a semiskilled machine shop occupation, or as a heavy truck driver. ^{[9] [13]}

The limited information available about his service leaves many details unclear. According to his obituary, he served in the 381st division as a staff sergeant, fought in the Normandy invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. ^[14] According to the form filled out when he left the Army, he was a technician fourth grade (roughly equivalent to sergeant) in company B of the 2832nd Engineers Combat Battalion, driving a heavy truck, and fought in the Rhineland (15 September 1944-21 March 1945) and Central Europe Campaigns (22 March-11 May 1945). He may have been transferred to the 2832nd to return to the United States with them. However, he reportedly left the US for Europe on 30 October 1944 and arrived on 10 November 1944, months after the Normandy landing on 6 June 1944 (and after the Normandy Campaign ended on 24 July 1944), and he apparently did not receive a battle star for the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign (which included the "Battle of the Bulge"). He qualified as a marksman in the M 1903 Springfield Rifle on 7 July 1942, and as an expert in the carbine on 10 June 1944 and 31 July 1945. He received an American Service Medal, a European African Middle Eastern service medal, and Good Conduct medal, and a Victory medal. He left Europe for the US on 3 November 1945, arriving on 14 November 1945. ^[9]

He was discharged on 18 November 1945, at Fort Monmouth, Monmouth County, New Jersey. He received $1.35 to cover his expenses traveling home. ^{[13] [9]}

He married Helen A Martinoff, before he left the Army. ^{[15] [9]}

In 1950, Leslie and Helen were living at 307 North 8th Street, Kenilworth, Union County, New Jersey. Leslie worked 40 hours the week before the census was taken, as a tile setter. ^[16]

When he had work out of town, he and Helen would take Helen's cousin Ronald with them and stay in a cabin; he also visited them (apparently frequently) on weekends. ^[17]

On Sunday, 22 April 1956, he was injured in a head-on-collision. He was driving without lights and on the wrong side of the road. ^[18]

Helen and Leslie became estranged about 1958. ^[19]

Helen died on 3 September 1964, and was buried in St Gertrudes Cemetery, Colonia, Middlesex County, New Jersey. ^[15]

He worked for 23 years as a self-employed wet tile and marble man. He retired in 1974. ^{[14] [3]}

Leslie died on 25 September 1997, at home, 491 Boulevard, Kenilworth, Union County, New Jersey, of natural causes. He was cremated at Evergreen Crematory, Hillside, Union County, New Jersey. He was buried in Graceland Memorial Park, Kenilworth, Union County, New Jersey. ^{[3] [14] [4]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 1920 U.S. census, Kenilworth, Union County, New Jersey, enumeration district 111, sheet 1 B penned, family 9; image copy, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4YG-W7H : accessed 22 September 2019); citing National Archives, microfilm publication T625, roll 1071.

   Eight Street, owned, mortgaged

   head Stephen Jonas, male, white, 54, married, immigrated 1906, alien, born Bavaria, machinist, at machine shop

   wife Helen, female, white, 43, married, immigrated 1907, alien, born Bavaria

   daughter Helen, female, white, 14, single, immigrated 1907, alien, in school, born Bavaria

   son Stephen, male, white, 11, single, in school, born New York

   son Leslie, male, white, 10, single, in school, born New Jersey

   daughter Irene, female, white, 8, single, born New Jersey

   daughter Julia, female, white, 7, single, born New Jersey

   son George, male, white, 5, single, born New Jersey

   son Frank, male, white, 3 0/12, single, born New Jersey

   daughter Mary, female, white, 2 2/12, single, born New Jersey

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} social security application, Leslie Charles Jonas, born 5 May 1909, social security number 148-07-9974

   Leslie Charles Jonas

   residence: 8th Street, Kenilworth NJ

   employer: Kenilworth Mfg Co, Monroe Ave, Kenilworth NJ

   born 5 May 1909 Garwood NJ to Stephen George Jonas and Helen Tomasoky [sic]

   male, white

   signed 26 March 37

   see also Social security applications and claims index, 1936-2007 (available on Ancestry

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Department of Health, New Jersey, Death certificate, no. 0051790 (25 September 1997), Leslie Jonas; Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, Trenton.

   Leslie Jonas

   born 5 May 1909, Garwood, NJ, to Stephen Jonas and Helen Tomanafsky [sic]

   served in Army in WWII; white, widowed, contractor (wet tile and marble man), : : self employed, finished 9 years of school

   residence 491 Boulevard, Kenilworth, Union County, NJ

   informant: Ann Marie Rapuano (niece)

   died 25 September 1997, at residence, of natural causes

   cremated Evergreen Crematory, Hillside, NJ

4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Social Security death index, Leslie Jonas, Ancestry

   Leslie Jonas, 5 May 1909 to 25 Sep 1997 (last resident 07033 Kenilworth, Union, New Jersey), issued NJ before 1951

5. ↑ New Jersey, no record notice, 12 July 2019, citing birth search for Leslie Charles Jonas, 5 May 1909, father Stephen, in 'Births reported for 1909 (filed alphabetically)'; New Jersey State Archives, Trenton.
6. ↑ 1930 United States census, New Jersey, Union County, Kenilworth Borough, enumeration district 89, page 2B, family 29 (Helen Jonas), FamilySearch
7. ↑ Frederick Martinoff, obituary, The Cranford Citizen and Chronicle, Thursday 19 July 1934, page 6, col.6; image copy, Cranford Library (http://www.digifind-it.com/IDIViewer/web/viewer.html?file=/Cranford/data/newspapers/citizen-and-chronicle/1934/1934-07-19.pdf : accessed 4 July 2023).
8. ↑ letter, Frances Tiets to Catherine Kramlick, 9 September 1969, page 1, in possession of Jo Ann Kennedy-Ide

   '1933 Grandma died my mother said Grandma took Freddie 1934 i didnt believe that Freddie should be there remember only 19 years old he was and i had a terrible misscarrigge almost crazy for losing that baby and then Freddie so i was dragging Freddie back out of there it was Leslie who took me away from the cemertery and you know what my Mother done to me kept me away from the cemertery 1935 i cried for Mr Teets to take me home for Decoration Day when we got to N.J. my Mother said your staying here Mrs. Kelly and her was going to the grave yes this is hard to believe but its true as i said Leslie is my witness to this Freddie just a little more from being a boy what is 19 years of life nothing at that time your just stepping out of childhood'

9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4} United States, Department of Defense, 'Enlisted Record and Report of Separation', form WD AGO 53-55, Leslie Jonas, serial no. 32 158 369 (18 November 1945); National Personnel Records Center, St Louis.

   '1. LAST NAME- FIRST NAME - MIDDLE INITIAL JONAS LESLIE'

   '2. ARMY SERIAL NO. 32 158 369'

   '3. GRADE T-4'

   [T-4, technician fourth grade, was roughly equivalent to sergeant ('Technician fourth grade', Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technician_fourth_grade : accessed 22 September 2019).]

   '4. ARM OF SERVICE CE' [sc. combat engineers]

   '5. COMPONENT ERC' *

   '6. ORGANIZATION CO B 2832 ENGR C BN' [sc. combat battalion]

   [see '540th Combat Engineers - 2832nd & 2833rd Bns (http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/540th.htm : accessed 22 September 2019) for digitized material from the 2832nd]

   '7. DATE OF SEPARATION 18 NOV 45'

   '8. PLACE OF SEPARATION SEP CTR FT MONMOUTH NJ'

   '9. PERMANENT ADDRESS FOR MAILING PURPOSES 300 N 8 ST KENILWORTH NJ'

   '10. DATE OF BIRTH 5 MAY 09'

   '11. PLACE OF BIRTH GARWOOD NJ'

   '12. ADDRESS FROM WHICH EMPLOYMENT WILL BE SOUGHT SEE 9'

   '13. COLOR EYES BROWN'

   '14. COLOR HAIR BROWN'

   '15. HEIGHT 5' 9"'

   '16. WEIGHT 160 LBS.'

   '17. NO. DEPEND. 1'

   '18. RACE NEGRO'

   '19. MARITAL STATUS MARRIED'

   '20. U.S. CITIZEN? YES'

   '21. CIVILIAN OCCUPATION AND NO. TRUCK DRIVER 7-36.250'

   'MILITARY HISTORY'

   '22. DATE OF INDUCTION [blank]'

   '23. DATE OF ENLISTMENT RECALLED 7 JAN 42'

   '24. DATE OF ENTRY INTO ACTIVE SERVICE 7 JAN 42'

   '25. PLACE OF ENTRY INTO SERVICE FT DIX NJ'

   'SELECTIVE SERVICE DATA'

   '26. REGISTERED YES'

   '27. LOCAL S.S. BOARD NO. UNKNOWN'

   '28. COUNTY AND STATE UNION NJ'

   '29. HOME ADDRESS AT TIME OF ENTRY INTO SERVICE 300 N 8ST KENILWORTH NJ'

   '30. MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY AND NO. TRUCK DRIVER HEAVY 245'

   '31. MILITARY QUALIFICATIONS AND DATE'

   'M 1903 MXM 142 7 JUl 42 : M1 S170'

   [According to 'M1903 Springfield, Wikipedia (accessed 9 September 2019), the M1903 was adopted on 19 June 1903, and remained in use during World War II, though the M1 Garand replaced it as the standard infantry rifle in 1936.]

   ['MXM' presumably = 'marksman', the lowest of the three qualifications, with 'sharpshooter' higher and 'expert' the highest]

   'CARBINE EX 176 10 JUN 44: 31 JUL 45'

   '32. BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS CENTRAL EUROPE[,] RHINELAND[,] GO 33 WD 45 AS AMENDED'

   ['List of the United States Army Campaigns During World War II', Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Army_campaigns_during_World_War_II : accessed 9 Sep 2019), notes 19 campaigns in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater: The Rhineland Campaign extended from 15 September 1944 to 21 March 1945 (ending with the German retreat across the Rhine River), and the Central Europe Campaign extended from 22 March to 11 May 1945 (ending with the German surrender).

   '33. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS AMERICAN SERVICE MEDAL[,] EUROPEAN AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL[,] GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL[,] VICTORY MEDAL

   [General Order 33, War Department, 1945, lists the geographic and temporal boundaries of the European African Middle Eastern Campaign medal campaigns]

   '34. WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION NONE'

   '35. LATEST IMMUNIZATION DATES SMALLPOX 21SEP44 TYPHOID 21SEP44 TETANUS 26SEP45 OTHER NONE'

   '36. SERVICE OUTSIDE CONTINENTAL U.S. AND RETURN'

   'DATE OF DEPARTURE 30 OCT 44 DESTINATION ETO DATE OF ARRIVAL 10 NOV 44'

   'DATE OF DEPARTURE 3 NOV 45 USA 14 NOV 45'

   '37. TOTAL LENGTH OF SERVICE

   'CONTINENTAL SERVICE YEARS 2 MONTHS 9 DAYS 27'

   'FOREIGN SERVICE YEARS 1 MONTHS 0 DAYS 15'

   '38. HIGHEST GRADE HELD T-4'

   '39. PRIOR SERVICE AUS 0-3-7 ERC 0-3-6'

   ['AUS' = Army of the United States? 'ERC' = Enlisted Reserve Corps ?]

   '40. REASON AND AUTHORITY FOR SEPARATION CONV OF THE GOV AR 615-365 15 DEC 44 AND RR 1-1 DEMOBILIZATION'

   ['AR 615 - 365 RR 1-1 Demobilization, is the Army Regulation concerning Army forces reduction after the war.' ('Reading & Understanding the WWII Discharge Document', 80th Division (https://www.80thdivision.com/pdfs/ReadingUnderstandingWWIIDischargeDocument.pdf : accessed 22 September 2019).]

   '41. SERVICE SCHOOLS ATTENDED NONE

   '42. EDUCATION (Years) Grammar 8 High School 0 College 0'

   'PAY DATA'

   '43. LONGEVITY FOR PAY PURPOSES YEARS 4 MONTHS 4 DAYS 25'

   '44. MUSTERING OUT PAYT TOTAL $300 THIS PAYMENT $100'

   '45. SOLDIER DEPOSITS NONE'

   '46. TRAVEL PAY $1.35'

   '47. TOTAL AMOUNT, NAME OF DISBURSING OFFICER $263.75 H M FIX MAJ FD'

   'INSURANCE NOTICE'

   '48. KIND OF INSURANCE Nat. Serv.'

   '49. HOW PAID Allotment'

   '50. Effective Date of Allotment Discontinuance 30 NOV 45'

   '51. Date of Next Premium Due (One month after 50) 31 DEC 45'

   '52. PREMIUM DUE EACH MONTH $7.50'

   '53. INTENTION OF VETERAN TO Discontinue'

   '54. RIGHT THUMB PRINT [blank]'

   '55. REMARKS'

   'LAPEL BUTTON ISSUED'

   'ASR SCORE 2 SEP 45 [:] 67'

   [the Advanced Service Rating score determined when men were returned to the US, based on length of service, family status, and battle honors (https://work.chron.com/army-asr-score-22134.html : accessed 21 September 2019): one point per month of service, combat awards five points each; in September 1945, '[t]roops with scores between 60 and 79 ASR points were classified as Liquidation Forces', while troops with higher scores were considered 'redeployment forces'; enlisted men (who did not have at least three children less than 18 years old) had to serve four years and earn 50 points before they were returned from Europe'.

   '56. SIGNATURE OF PERSON BEING SEPARATED [blank]'

   '57. PERSONNEL OFFICER MORRIS KRELL CAPT [illegible] [no signature]

   'WD AGO FORM 53 - 55 1 November 1944 ...'

10. ↑ World War II army enlistment records, 1938-1946, abstract on Ancestry

    Leslie Jonas, born 1909, New Jersey, enlisted 26 June 1941 at Trenton, New Jersey; education grammar school; occupation 'semiskilled machine shop and related occupations, n.e.c. [sc. not elsewhere classified?]; single, without dependents

11. ↑ 'Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946', database; National Archives, citing Record Group 64; specifically, Leslie Jonas, serial no. 32158369

    army serial number: 32158369

    name: Leslie Jonas; residence Union County, NJ; born 1909, NJ; single, without dependents

    enlisted on 26 June 1941, at Trenton, NJ, from civilian life

    education: grammar skill; occupation: semiskilled machine shop and related occupations, not otherwise classified

    "Selectees (Enlisted Men)"

12. ↑ Frances Tiets to Catherine Kramlick, 24 April 1973, page 4, in possession of Jo Ann Kennedy-Ide

    presumably the year is wrong, and it happened after he enlisted

    'my mother was busy in 1940 feeling sorry for Leslie Jonas while Helen and my mother was busy seeing him in camp for a couple of days '

13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} 'U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010', entry for Leslie Jonas (died 30 October 1997), Ancestry (https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2441&h=7683523&ssrc=pt&tid=80664302&pid=260053644364&usePUB=true : accessed 22 September 2019

    Leslie Jonas

    5 May 1909 to 30 Oct 1997

    enlisted 7 January 1942, released 18 November 1945

14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2} obituary, Leslie Jonas, Star Ledger (Newark New Jersey), Sunday 28 September 1997, transcription available on GenealogyBank

    Leslie Jonas, 88, born Garwood, died Thursday at home

    self-employed, wet tile and marble, retired in 1974

    lived for years in Kenilworth

    served in 381st Division in WWII as staff sergeant

    veteran of Normandy Invasion and Battle of the Bulge

    service tomorrow, Graceland Memorial Park, Kenilworth

15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} obituary, Mrs Leslie Jonas, Cranford Chronicle 10 September 1964, page 4

    Helen A Jonas (Mrs Leslie Jonas), 43, died Thursday at home of a heart ailment after two months illness

    345 W First Avenue, formerly of Kenilworth

    funeral Monday, buried St Gertrude Cemetery, Woodbridge

    survived by husband Leslie Jonas, sister Frances Teets (Fairmont, WV), and brother Peter Martinoff Jr (Roselle)

16. ↑ 1950 U.S. census, Kenilworth, Union County, New Jersey, population schedule, enumeration district 30-14, sheets 3-4, household 26; image copy, National Archives (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Union&ed=20-46&page=1&state=NJ : accessed 1 April 2022).

    307 North 8th Street

    head Leslie C Jonas, white, male, 40, married, born NJ, worked 40 hours prior week, tile setter, tile setting business, private employer [sc. not own business]

    wife Helen A -, white, female, 28, married, born NJ, engaged in housework

17. ↑ letter, Frances Tiets to Catherine Kramlick, 12 September 1983, page 1, in possession of Jo Ann Kennedy-Ide

    'the good part goes back to Helen when Ronald was a little boy she and Les would take him when Les had work 50 miles or so from home and they would rent a cabin till Les got his job finished thats why i asked you if Les paid attention to Donnas Ronald but you didnt ans'

18. ↑ 'Head-on crash injures Jonas', Cranford Citizen and Chronicle Thursday 26 April 1956, page 4, col.2; image copy, Cranford Library (http://www.digifind-it.com/IDIViewer/web/viewer.html?file=/Cranford/data/newspapers/chronicle/1956/1956-04-26.pdf : accessed 4 July 2023).
19. ↑ letter, Frances Tiets to Catherine Kramlick, 8 August 1984, page 7, in possession of Jo Ann Kennedy-Ide

    'mostly i wants to get back on her of breaking up Les and Helen'

see also

• Leslie Jonas, in FamilySearch's Family Tree