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James Elvis Matteson

Corporal James E. Matteson served with HQ Company, Third Battalion, 4th Marines.
He was captured at Corregidor and died while a prisoner of war at Cabanatuan, Philippine Islands, on 25 November 1942.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 269234

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains not recovered.

Pursuit Category

This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

November 27, 1920
at Parnell, MO

Parents

Erdley Stone Matteson, Sr.
Ada Belle (Cowden) Matteson (d. 1930)

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Details unknown

Service Life

Entered Service

December 1, 1938
at Denver, CO

Home Of Record

Belleville, IL

Next Of Kin

Brother, Erdley Matteson Jr.

Military Specialty

Quartermaster Clerk

Primary Unit

HQ/3/4th Marines

Campaigns Served

Philippine Islands / Corregidor

Individual Decorations

Prisoner of War Medal

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

PFC James Matteson was stationed at Cavite, Philippine Islands, when the United States entered World War II. His unit was re-designated as the Third Battalion, 4th Marines, and Matteson served as a Headquarters Company clerk in the defense of the Philippines and the siege of Corregidor during the spring of 1942. He was promoted to the rank of corporal during the campaign.

Matteson was captured in the fall of Corregidor on 6 May 1942, and held as a prisoner of war at Cabanatuan Camp #1, Nueva Ecija province. Unsanitary living conditions, harsh treatment by guards, and a starvation diet took a rapid toll on the prisoners of war; in October, Corporal Matteson reported to the camp hospital with a severe case of dysentery. There was little that doctors could do but try to keep the young Marine comfortable; he finally died just before midnight on 25 November 1942.

POW/Missing Persons Detachment, HQMC, July 1943. This date of death was corrected to November 1942 after receiving POW records.
Burial Information or Disposition

Matteson was buried in Grave 810 of the Cabanatuan cemetery, along with twelve other prisoners of war.

NameRankService NumberAgeStatus
Carey, Edward P.Private3207396635Unaccounted
Eldridge, CarliePrivate3414002524Unaccounted
Matteson, James E.Corporal26923421Unaccounted
Woodman, Edward B.Private1101346723Identified
Simpson, Ben W.Sergeant628741733Unaccounted
Schoenwolf, FredLieutenant62-21841Identified
Lawler, Lee E.PFC1902067525Identified
Vaughn, WalterSergeant1506142030Unaccounted
O'Rourke, Vincent C.Staff Sergeant2089223825Identified
Stoughton, John A.Sergeant3209223836Identified
Beasley, James B.CorporalR-328452249Unaccounted
Nelson, LloydPrivate3703764436Identified
Howell, Fredrick C.Seaman 1c33495328Unaccounted

Grave 810 was exhumed in 1946, and the remains sent to Manila for examination. Those that could not be individually identified – including Corporal Matteson – were buried as unknowns in the Manila American Cemetery.

The unknowns listed above are associated with X-numbers 411, 412, 414, 415, 416, 417, and 418,  Manila Mausoleum #2.
Matteson was tentatively identified as X-416, but not proven.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of brother, Erdley Matteson Junior.
At the time of James’ death, Erdley was an Army staff sergeant.

Location Of Loss

Corporal Matteson died at Cabanatuan Camp #1.

Related Profiles

Members of the 4th Marines non-recovered from Cabanatuan Camp #1.
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