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.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 269234
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.
Burial Information or Disposition
Matteson was buried in Grave 810 of the Cabanatuan cemetery, along with twelve other prisoners of war.
| Name | Rank | Service Number | Age | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carey, Edward P. | Private | 32073966 | 35 | Unaccounted |
| Eldridge, Carlie | Private | 34140025 | 24 | Unaccounted |
| Matteson, James E. | Corporal | 269234 | 21 | Unaccounted |
| Woodman, Edward B. | Private | 11013467 | 23 | Identified |
| Simpson, Ben W. | Sergeant | 6287417 | 33 | Unaccounted |
| Schoenwolf, Fred | Lieutenant | 62-218 | 41 | Identified |
| Lawler, Lee E. | PFC | 19020675 | 25 | Identified |
| Vaughn, Walter | Sergeant | 15061420 | 30 | Unaccounted |
| O'Rourke, Vincent C. | Staff Sergeant | 20892238 | 25 | Identified |
| Stoughton, John A. | Sergeant | 32092238 | 36 | Identified |
| Beasley, James B. | Corporal | R-3284522 | 49 | Unaccounted |
| Nelson, Lloyd | Private | 37037644 | 36 | Identified |
| Howell, Fredrick C. | Seaman 1c | 334953 | 28 | Unaccounted |
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.
