Charles Hromidko was born August 31, 1921 in Bagley, Minnesota to Czechslovakian immigrant parents Joe and Mary Blazek Hromidko. He had brothers Ben, Frank, Milo and his twin Joe, and two sisters Mary and Sylvia. The family lived in Copley Township before moving to Popple Township in the ’30s.

Charles attended 9th grade at Bagley then worked on his dad’s farm.  He was employed by Wilson Foods in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, an employer of large numbers of Czechslovakian immigrants, when he registered for the draft.

On August 15th, 1942 he was drafted and left for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for induction into the Army. He received more training in Fort Meade, Maryland, before being sent to the European Theater aboard the Queen Mary. 

He was a gunner with the 71st anti-aircraft unit and fought with Company B of the 329th Infantry in the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged on November 14, 1945 and went back to Iowa, where he married Julia Hartl. They first lived in Ely, Iowa before moving to Swisher. They had children Larry, John, Dennis, Barbara and Tammy. 

Charles was a charter Swisher Sons of the American Legion Member, and Commander of the Swisher American Legion. He worked for Wilson Foods/Farmstead for 41 years before retiring. He and Julia were married 61 years when he died April 5th, 2008. He is buried in Blain Cemetery, Swisher.

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