John Ernest Jonson was born November 22, 1919 in Wray, Colorado to Frank O. and Edna G. (Day) Jonson. His father died when he was just seven years old, shortly before the fifth child was born into the family.
Jonson served in the Civilian Conservation Corps at a camp in Sterling, Colorado prior to entering the service.
In January 1942, Jonson was inducted into the United States Army from Yuma County, Colorado. Service Number 38083134. SGT Jonson served with the 603rd Tank Destroyer Battalion which landed in France at Utah Beach on June 21-22, 1944.
On January 1, 1945, the 603rd Tank Destroyer Battalion engaged in a bitter battle to stem the on-rushing Germans in the Ardennes. The division struck Germany's best troops at Bastogne, Belgium in a howling blizzard. SGT Jonson was KIA in the battle, January 1, 1945.
John Ernest Jonson was interred in Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial and posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
SGT Jonson's brother, MSGT Oscar E. Jonson, also served during WWII. His brother-in-law, SGT Homer J. Ackelson, was KIA in WWII.