Albert Jongewaard arrived Friday from San Diego, Calif., where he has been in the Navy training school, for a furlough visit with his parents, Dr. and Mrs. A. C. Jongewaard. “Ab” looks so splendid in his uniform that several of his boy friends have caught the “fever” to join the Navy.
Source: Alton Democrat Mar. 22, 1935, p 3
Albert Jongewaard left again Wednesday to resume his work at the Navy Yards in California.
Source: Sioux Center News Mar. 28, 1935, p 10
Word has been received that Albert Jongewaard will make his home on the cruiser Milwaukee for a while. His address is now U.S.S. Milwaukee, c.o. Postmaster, San Diego, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 25, 1935, p 9
“Ab” Jongewaard A Yeoman Albert Jongewaard, until recently ship photographer aboard the U.S.S. Milwaukee, has received a promotion and is now the yeoman orderly for the ship’s commander. The new position carries a nice increase of salary. During the recent Navy maneuvers “Ab” was leader of a group of thirteen men manning one of the ship’s guns. His was the only group 100% efficient, making eight hits out of eight shots. Each of the men in his group received a prize of $12 and he received an extra prize as the best triggerman. Albert is the son of Dr. and Mrs. A. C. Jongewaard. He joined the navy last winter after his appointment as alternate to Annapolis had failed to win him entrance into the Naval Academy, the first appointee having qualified. His advancement since completing his first training at San Diego has been rapid.
Source: Alton Democrat Oct. 18, 1935, p 6
Albert Jongewaard, member of the crew of the U.S.S. Milwaukee has been advanced from Seaman Second Class to Seaman First Class with an $18 raise in salary. “Ab” is also high point man on the ship’s basketball team, which is the highest ranking team in their league. Early in the spring the crew will go on a cruise through the Panama.
Source: Sioux Center News Nov. 28, 1935, p 8
Albert Jongewaard is home from Navy service for a few weeks furlough.
Source: Alton Democrat June 19, 1936
Albert Jongewaard of the U. S. Navy arrived home for a 30-day furlough on Monday, at the home of his parents, Dr. and Mrs. A.C. Jongewaard.
Source: Sioux Center News June 24, 1937, p 4
Albert Jongewaard arrived home last week from San Diego, Calif., where he has been a sailor in the United States Navy for the past two and half years. At present he is stationed in the S. S. Milwaukee which he says is the “best ship in the navy”. He spent some time last winter in Honolulu and had some very interesting experiences. In certain parts of Honolulu the natives dress in grass skirts and resemble exactly the pictures we see. These costumes are worn by dancing girls over garments made similar to sunsuits such as our young children wear. Dancing girls are drawn from all walks of life, entertain professionally, and thus keep alive Hawaiian folklore and early day Island dancing.
Source: Sioux Center News July 8, 1937, p
After a month of vacation, Albert Jongewaard has returned to his work with the U. S. Navy.
Source: Sioux Center News July 22, 1937, p 2
A SAILOR’S EXPERIENCE The following is an excerpt from a letter written by Albert Jongewaard to his parents:
Place - Aboard the Good Ship Milwaukee, somewhere west of San Diego, doing no good or harm to any one and making life miserable for all forms of sea life. We are wandering about with the fleet going through maneuvers, and what not, try ing decide – what? – we don’t know and I don’t believe the skipper has any idea either. Three days now and we haven’t sighted land, the sea is rough and our stomachs are weak. We are literally giving our all to Uncle Sam’s Navy. One final splurge and tomorrow we will moor in our home “town” and enjoy the peace and quietude of San Diego Bay. One night the sea was so rough that we didn’t know whether we were right side up or vice versa. The skipper decided that it would be best to drop the “hook” and ride at anchor through the storm. He let go the anchor and it dropped in the crow’s nest injuring 3 seamen. The following morning a seaman went up in the foretop and found five big fish swimming around in the water we had picked up on one of the extremely bad rolls. He harpooned them and took them down to the galley. We had fresh fish for dinner. Such is life in the navy – something new and exciting all the time. Never a moment’s rest – never know what to expect. And so the ocean rolls on.
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 26, 1937, p 1
SIOUX CENTER PHYSICIAN PASSES AWAY
Dr. A. C. Jongewaard passed away at his home here Sunday morning, January 2, 1938 at 9:30 A.M. He was 59 years old. His death came as a result of pernicious anemia and complications. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at Central Reformed Church, Rev. Meengs officiating. He was born December 11, 1878, near Orange City where he grew to manhood, graduating from Northwestern Academy and teaching school in the county four years. He then took a medical course at Chicago, a six-year course which he completed in four years by attending night school at the University and taking his medical training at Rush Medical where he received his degree. He was a student instructor in pathology while attending the medical college from which he graduated in 1904. That year he took his bride Johanna Christtina Vander Meer to Sioux Center where he set up a practice in which he has continued for thirty-four years. All of these with the exception of seven years were spent in Sioux Center. He moved his family to Montana for seven years for a change of climate and at the end of that time he returned to Sioux Center where he continued to practice medicine until two years ago when his health began to fail. About a year ago he started having blood transfusions at intervals, until a few weeks previous to his death. During his residence here Dr. Jongewaard was twice elected County Coroner and has been heath officer for the town for some years. Dr. & Mrs. Jongewaard remembered their thirty-fourth wedding anniversary on New Year’s Day, just one day before the doctor passed away. He leaves to mourn his beloved wife, two sons, Richard Cornelius of Hudson, SD and Albert John of San Diego, CA, and five daughters; Mrs. G. W. Baldwin of Hawarden, Mrs. James T. Robertson of Santa Monica, CA, Judith Mae, who teaches rural school, Betty June and Beverly Ann who are in school here. One son, Richard C., died in infancy; one brother J. C. Jongewaard of Hurley, SD; three sisters, Mrs. J. H. Muilenburg of Manchester, SD; Mrs. H. B. Bogaard of Orange City, and Mrs. C. A. Walhoff of Rock Valley all of whom came to attend the last rites. ….. Mrs. Robertson (nee Melba Jongewaard) and Albert John Jongewaard were unable to be here for the funeral. Albert who is in the U. S. Navy was obliged to report on duty the day after New Year’s and the ship on which he has a berth is now on its way to Australia for a three month period. Melba has a year old son with whom a long journey at this season would be hazardous.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 6, 1938, p 1 & 8
Albert Jongewaard arrived home on Tuesday to help his mother and sisters get ready for their sale which is to be held May 21st. The family will then go to California to live.
Source: Sioux Center News May 12, 1938, p 4
A message was received of Walter Steenbergen that the cruisers arrived in San Diego, Calif. May 1st. In January the three cruisers, Memphis, Trenton and Milwaukee left San Diego. The most important stops were at Australia where they helped with the centennial anniversary. At Singapore inauguration of Naval Dock. The last stop was at the Hawaiian Islands for maneuvers. Walter was on the Memphis and his cousin, Albert Jongewaard of Sioux Center on the Milwaukee.
Source: Sioux Center News May 12, 1938, p 8
Former Sioux Center Boy To Take Part In Mass Commencement “AB” JONGEWAARD TO RECEIVE GOLD WINGS NOV. 1
Friends here will be glad to learn that Albert Jongewaard, former Sioux Centerite, will take part in the Mass Commencement Exercises on Nov. 1 at Corpus Christi where the first graduating class of 48 men will receive their commissions as ensigns, their gold wings as naval aviators and their diplomas as first graduates of the new air station. This is the first class to be graduated from the Corpus Christi, Florida air station. Classes completing the required course hereafter will be graduated in small groups.
Source: Sioux Center News Oct. 30, 1941, p 8
Source: Sioux Center News Feb. 5, 1942, p 12
This past October Ab Jongewaard was promoted from Lt. (j.g.) to Lt. Senior Grade. His address is now: Lt. A.J. Jongewaard, V.B-140, c.o. Fleet Postoffice, San Francisco, Calif. Ab has been overseas since July 1943 but could not give any clue as to his whereabouts until recently when his letters stated he was somewhere in the South Pacific. He said it would be hard for anyone to keep up with him and “Daisie Mae” as he calls his bomber. He called on Del TePaske sometime during the summer but Del had moved.
Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 23, 1943, p 2
Ab Jongewaard gives no indication as to how he was burned but no doubt has seen some action before the accident occurred. Jan. 9, 1944 Dear Ed: Please excuse the pencil but my pen hasn’t caught up with me and I hate to ruin somebody else’s pen. About five weeks ago I had an accident and got fairly well scorched – result I have been taking life easy in the hospital with prospects of spending several more. I am getting along very nicely now – but what makes me the happiest is that I will have no scars. Seeing as how I don’t know where I will be going from here I would appreciate it if you would forward the paper to this address – if anyone is interested I can always be reached thru this address as Mae (the better half) is there while I am gone.
Lieut. A. J. Jongewaard 827 West 64th St. Los Angeles, 44, Calif.
Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 20, 1944, p 12
Back to South Pacific
LT. ALBERT JONGEWAARD Lt. Albert Jongewaard writes to renew his subscription to the News. Ab was piloting a navy scout dive bomber, was severely burned in a crash, and has been instructing at Shawnee, Oklahoma for the past year. Dear Ed: I am sending a check to cover another year’s subscription to the News. I am about ready to put in for the South Pacific again as this weather here is about to get me down – nothing like this around the equator. Would you please change your address-o-graph and send the paper to this address? Lieut. A. J. Jongewaard Naval Air Station Shawnee, Oklahoma Will be writing later. Albert Jongewaard
Source: Sioux Center News July 13, 1944, p 2
NAVY PILOT CIRCLES SIOUX CENTER
LT. A. J. JONGEWAARD A letter from Mrs. George Baldwin of Hawarden reads in part as follows: “We’ve enjoyed the Sioux Center News immensely the past year and especially like the full accounts of the county news and all the news of the boys on the fighting fronts. Oddz 'n ends is fun, too. The pictures you print give it a distinct personality. No wonder former Sioux Centerites enjoy your paper so much. It is fine! “Did you see the plane circling about Sioux Center a week ago Tuesday about noon? That was my brother Lieut. A. J. Jongewaard (Ab) now based at Clinton, Oklahoma where he is stationed at the present time. He was making a flight to Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Des Moines, Minneapolis and enroute circled over our farm and over Sioux Center. You can imagine how thrilled I was! When he wrote me he said Iowa and especially Sioux County looked beautiful from the air and he particularly liked its trees and corn fields, both of which are in the minority in Oklahoma. He said he was proud to show his crew Sioux County.” (He is a navy pilot) (Signed) Mrs. G. W. Baldwin (formerly Helengene Jongewaard.)
Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 9, 1945, p 2
SERVED IN NAVY FOR NINE YEARS
Lieut. and Mrs. A. J. Jongewaard arrived last week from Clinton, Okla., to visit in the home of his sister, Mrs. George Baldwin.
Lieut. Jongewaard has been in the navy nine years and prior to the war served two years overseas. He then returned to the United States, entered an aviation school at Corpus Christi, Texas, and was a member of the first pilot training graduating class at this place. He then served 10 months in the South Pacific, but was compelled to return to the United States because of a severe burn suffered in a plane crash in Munda. Lieut. and Mrs. Jongewaard left this week for Los Angeles, Calif.
Source: Hawarden Independent Oct. 18, 1945, p 8
