WWII Coast Guard Veteran (Signalman, Frogman)
Born in Idaho to Joseph (American Apache Flathead tribe) & Beatrice "Pena" Mondragon. He joined the Coast Guard 7-30-42 as a signal man. He later became a frogman performing underwater demolition in the Pacific. He was assigned to the USS LST-68 and saw action in New Guinea and the Philippines/Luzon Operation. Believe he was on UDT Team 8 per a conversation with Leo about seeing kamikaze hit ships in his flotilla and my own research regarding where Team 8 was sent.
Demobilized in March, 1946 in Long Beach, California, he married LILLIAN Jeanette Peterson (born in Minnesota)on June 6, 1946 in Bellflower, CA. They had three sons, LOWELL Duane (1946-2014), LEON Maxwell (1954-2001) and LEONARD Charles (1956-2017) They divorced in 1958.
That same year he married ETHEL Elaine "Fears" Austin of Vallejo, CA. They moved to Los Gatos, CA in 1960 and enjoyed a very active family life until her death.
He worked as a master carpenter. But his great loves after football were fishing, hunting, fly-tying, bowling, and golfing.
Quote from his funeral by his son-in-law, Maurice:
"I am ready to meet my maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter." - Winston Churchill
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1940 US Census, Franklin, Idaho
Joe Mondragon (47) Sheepherder, born Colorado
Beatrice (38) wife, Colorado
Frank (19) son, Sheepherder, Idaho
Lucille (17) daughter, Idaho
LEO (15) son, Idaho
Solomon (7) son, Colorado
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Paternal grandparents: Joe Mondragon and Abelina Alvarez Mondragon - from his father's obituary.
Born in Idaho to Joseph (American Apache Flathead tribe) & Beatrice "Pena" Mondragon. He joined the Coast Guard 7-30-42 as a signal man. He later became a frogman performing underwater demolition in the Pacific. He was assigned to the USS LST-68 and saw action in New Guinea and the Philippines/Luzon Operation. Believe he was on UDT Team 8 per a conversation with Leo about seeing kamikaze hit ships in his flotilla and my own research regarding where Team 8 was sent.
Demobilized in March, 1946 in Long Beach, California, he married LILLIAN Jeanette Peterson (born in Minnesota)on June 6, 1946 in Bellflower, CA. They had three sons, LOWELL Duane (1946-2014), LEON Maxwell (1954-2001) and LEONARD Charles (1956-2017) They divorced in 1958.
That same year he married ETHEL Elaine "Fears" Austin of Vallejo, CA. They moved to Los Gatos, CA in 1960 and enjoyed a very active family life until her death.
He worked as a master carpenter. But his great loves after football were fishing, hunting, fly-tying, bowling, and golfing.
Quote from his funeral by his son-in-law, Maurice:
"I am ready to meet my maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter." - Winston Churchill
---------------------
1940 US Census, Franklin, Idaho
Joe Mondragon (47) Sheepherder, born Colorado
Beatrice (38) wife, Colorado
Frank (19) son, Sheepherder, Idaho
Lucille (17) daughter, Idaho
LEO (15) son, Idaho
Solomon (7) son, Colorado
---------------------
Paternal grandparents: Joe Mondragon and Abelina Alvarez Mondragon - from his father's obituary.
WWII Coast Guard Veteran (Signalman, Frogman)
Born in Idaho to Joseph (American Apache Flathead tribe) & Beatrice "Pena" Mondragon. He joined the Coast Guard 7-30-42 as a signal man. He later became a frogman performing underwater demolition in the Pacific. He was assigned to the USS LST-68 and saw action in New Guinea and the Philippines/Luzon Operation. Believe he was on UDT Team 8 per a conversation with Leo about seeing kamikaze hit ships in his flotilla and my own research regarding where Team 8 was sent.
Demobilized in March, 1946 in Long Beach, California, he married LILLIAN Jeanette Peterson (born in Minnesota)on June 6, 1946 in Bellflower, CA. They had three sons, LOWELL Duane (1946-2014), LEON Maxwell (1954-2001) and LEONARD Charles (1956-2017) They divorced in 1958.
That same year he married ETHEL Elaine "Fears" Austin of Vallejo, CA. They moved to Los Gatos, CA in 1960 and enjoyed a very active family life until her death.
He worked as a master carpenter. But his great loves after football were fishing, hunting, fly-tying, bowling, and golfing.
Quote from his funeral by his son-in-law, Maurice:
"I am ready to meet my maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter." - Winston Churchill
---------------------
1940 US Census, Franklin, Idaho
Joe Mondragon (47) Sheepherder, born Colorado
Beatrice (38) wife, Colorado
Frank (19) son, Sheepherder, Idaho
Lucille (17) daughter, Idaho
LEO (15) son, Idaho
Solomon (7) son, Colorado
---------------------
Paternal grandparents: Joe Mondragon and Abelina Alvarez Mondragon - from his father's obituary.
Born in Idaho to Joseph (American Apache Flathead tribe) & Beatrice "Pena" Mondragon. He joined the Coast Guard 7-30-42 as a signal man. He later became a frogman performing underwater demolition in the Pacific. He was assigned to the USS LST-68 and saw action in New Guinea and the Philippines/Luzon Operation. Believe he was on UDT Team 8 per a conversation with Leo about seeing kamikaze hit ships in his flotilla and my own research regarding where Team 8 was sent.
Demobilized in March, 1946 in Long Beach, California, he married LILLIAN Jeanette Peterson (born in Minnesota)on June 6, 1946 in Bellflower, CA. They had three sons, LOWELL Duane (1946-2014), LEON Maxwell (1954-2001) and LEONARD Charles (1956-2017) They divorced in 1958.
That same year he married ETHEL Elaine "Fears" Austin of Vallejo, CA. They moved to Los Gatos, CA in 1960 and enjoyed a very active family life until her death.
He worked as a master carpenter. But his great loves after football were fishing, hunting, fly-tying, bowling, and golfing.
Quote from his funeral by his son-in-law, Maurice:
"I am ready to meet my maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter." - Winston Churchill
---------------------
1940 US Census, Franklin, Idaho
Joe Mondragon (47) Sheepherder, born Colorado
Beatrice (38) wife, Colorado
Frank (19) son, Sheepherder, Idaho
Lucille (17) daughter, Idaho
LEO (15) son, Idaho
Solomon (7) son, Colorado
---------------------
Paternal grandparents: Joe Mondragon and Abelina Alvarez Mondragon - from his father's obituary.
Inscription
"Gone Fishing"
Gravesite Details
Cremains co-mingled with his wife Elaine's cremains and placed in same niche
Family Members
Other Records
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