Lemuel Mathewson (March 29, 1899 – February 26, 1970) was a United States Army lieutenant general.
Lemuel Mathewson | |
|---|---|
 General Mathewson in Berlin c. 1951 | |
| Born | March 29, 1899 Bath, New York |
| Died | February 26, 1970 (aged 70) Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, D.C. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1918–1958 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | Sixth United States Army V Corps United States Communications Zone, Orléans, France United States Berlin Command 11th Airborne Division Artillery XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal Order of Alexander Nevsky (USSR) |
| Other work | Chairman, Inter-American Defense Board |
Early career
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Mathewson was born in Bath, New York on March 29, 1899.[1] A 1917 graduate of Bath's Haverling High School,[2] he graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1922 and was commissioned as an artillery officer.[3]
In the 1920s and 1930s, Mathewson served in a variety of assignments in the United States and overseas, including graduate student in Madrid, Spain, professor of Spanish at the United States Military Academy, instructor at the Fort Sill, Oklahoma Field Artillery School, and special projects officer in Latin America.[4][5][6][7]
From 1938 to 1939, Mathewson attended the Command and General Staff College.[8][9]
World War II
edit- 1943 to 1944 – Mathewson served as Aide to President Franklin D. Roosevelt,[10] and was with him during conferences in Cairo and Tehran.[11]
- 1944 – Mathewson was appointed assistant commander of VII Corps Artillery.[12]
- 1944 to 1945 – Mathewson was then assigned to command XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery.[13]
Post World War II
edit- 1945 to 1948 – Mathewson was Chief of Staff for the Caribbean Defense Command.[14]
- 1948 to 1949 – Mathewson was coordinator for the Inter-American Defense Board.[15]
- 1949 to 1951 – He became commander of the 11th Airborne Division Artillery.[16]
- 1951 to 1953 – Mathewson served as commander of the U.S. Berlin Command.[17][18][19]
- 1953 to 1954 – Mathewson commanded the U.S. Communications Zone in Orléans, France.[20]
Later career
edit- 1954 to 1955 – Mathewson served as Director of the Joint Staff for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[21][22]
- 1956 to 1957 – Mathewson was commander of the U.S. V Corps.[23]
- 1957 to 1958 – Mathewson served as commander of the U.S. Sixth Army and went into retirement.[24] In 1957 he was assigned as military aide to Queen Elizabeth II during her tour of the United States.[25]
Awards and decorations
editMathewson's awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal[26] and the Order of Alexander Nevsky from the Soviet Union.[27]
Later work
editMathewson served as Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board from 1958 to 1961.[28][29][30]
Retirement and death
editAfter retiring from the IADB Mathewson resided in McLean, Virginia. He died at Walter Reed Army Hospital on February 26, 1970.[31] General Mathewson was buried in Section III Site A-24 of the West Point Cemetery.[32]
References
edit- ^ Current Biography, published by H.W. Wilson Company, Volume 13, 1952, page 33
- ^ Steuben County History web site, Bath Area High School Graduates page
- ^ Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, published by the Association of Graduates, 1930, page 1704
- ^ Roster of Officers and Troops, United States Military Academy, 1932, page 5
- ^ Current Biography, published by H.W. Wilson Company
- ^ Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, 1930
- ^ A Soldier Reports, by General William Childs Westmoreland, 1976, Volume 1, page 14
- ^ "Recommendations for Leavenworth and the War College", Lieutenant Colonel F.A. Doniat, The Field Artillery Journal, November–December, 1937, page 456
- ^ U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957, page 548
- ^ Annual Proceedings of the Legislature of Steuben County, published by Steuben County (N.Y.) Legislature, 2005, page 71
- ^ The Conferences at Cairo and Tehran, 1943, U.S. Department of State Historical Office, 1961, page xxxv
- ^ Army Information Digest, published by U.S. Armed Forces Information School, 1946, page 2
- ^ Ridgway's Paratroopers: the American Airborne in World War II, Clay Blair, 1985, page 483
- ^ "Caribbean Command Shifts", The New York Times, September 1, 1945 (subscription required)
- ^ Assembly, published by the West Point Alumni Association, 1949, volumes 8 to 9, page 22
- ^ The Angels: a History of the 11th Airborne Division, E.M. Flanagan, 1989, page 397
- ^ "U.S. Reinforces Berlin Garrison", Toledo Blade, January 15, 1951
- ^ Web page, History of the Berlin Brigade Archived 2012-07-20 at archive.today
- ^ "U.S. Will Relieve its Berlin Chief", The New York Times, December 25, 1952 (subscription required)
- ^ "To Take Over Post". Edwardsville Intelligencer. Heidelberg, Germany. United Press International. December 26, 1952. p. 2. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "2 Generals Nominated by Ike for Promotions". Chicago Tribune. Washington. AP. March 17, 1954. p. 5. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Notable Names in American History: a Tabulated Register, 1973, page 399
- ^ U.S. Army V Corps web site, leaders page Archived 2010-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "6th Army Chief to Retire", The New York Times, January 16, 1958 (subscription required)
- ^ "Elizabeth on Way to Canada by Air", The New York Times, October 12, 1957 (subscription required)
- ^ Official Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1960, page 1284
- ^ Empric, Bruce E. (2024), Uncommon Allies: U.S. Army Recipients of Soviet Military Decorations in World War II, Teufelsberg Press, p. 89, ISBN 979-8-3444-6807-5
- ^ U.S. Government Manual, 1960, page 574
- ^ Annual Report, Organization of American States, 1961, page 11
- ^ "Gen. Mathewson Gets Defense Post". Hartford Courant. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. AP. August 18, 1959. p. 22. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gen. Mathewson, Artilleryman, 70; Commander in Berlin From 1951 to 1953 Is Dead", The New York Times, March 1, 1970
- ^ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Grave Site Locator