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Hilding "H.E." Earl Mattson
Jeremy Anderson2021-06-25T18:30:22-05:00
- Name: Hilding "H.E." Earl Mattson
- Location of Birth: Bovey, Minnesota
- Date of Birth: September 4, 1918
- Date of Death: March 14, 1965
- Parents: August Mattson & Otiliana (Bergen) Mattson
- High School and Class: 1936 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
- College: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Highest Rank: LIEUTENANT
- Branch: Navy
- Other Branch:
- Date Sworn In: September 17, 1942
- Place Sworn In:
- Date of Discharge: March 15, 1946
- Place of Discharge: Boston, Massachusetts
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- Military Awards:
American Theater Ribbon
Victory Ribbon, World War II
- Military Highlights:
WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
State: Minnesota
Name: Hilding Earl Mattson
Race: White
Age: 22
Birth Date: September 4, 1918
Birth Place: Bovey, Minnesota, USA
Residence Place: Bovey, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
Registration Date: October 16, 1940
Employer: Messabe-Cliff [sic] Mining Co., Coleraine, Itasca, Minnesota
Weight: 190
Height: 5-11
Complexion: Ruddy
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blonde
Next of Kin: August Mattson, father, Bovey, Itasca, Minnesota
Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – January 8, 1943 – “Dear Friends: I wish to thank you and express my appreciation for your very nice Christmas gift. It’s nice to know that your friends back home are thinking about you. I think the Club is doing a splendid job. It’s the thing such as you are doing that keeps up the morale of the boys and we all appreciate it very much. I’ve been located in New York City since entering the service. I spent from September to the later part of November in communications. Since that time I have transferred to supply work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The Navy Yard here is really an interesting place. I’m leaving for Boston the middle of January to attend a three to four months course at Harvard University. After that I’ll either be stationed on a ship or sent to a foreign base. New York is quite a fascinating city – especially so since the war. There are so many places to see and things to do. I’ve made it a point to take in as much of it as possible in my off-duty time, and I think I’ve covered about everything. Times Square and Broadway are jammed every night like the sidewalks of Bovey on a very busy Farmer’s Day. I wish to take this opportunity to say hello to all my friends in Bovey and wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year. Sincerely, Ensign H. E. Mattson.
P.S. Keep rolling with that ore because we need more and more.”
Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – May 21, 1943 – “Morris Hall, C-22, Soldiers Field, Boston, Mass. Dear Ann: My paper was mixed up in a little change of address, and as a result, I received it late and didn’t get the notice of your birthday till after it had passed. I’m very sorry I wasn’t able to send my greeting, but I do wish you had a swell time. I looked forward to the Press and your letters every week. They certainly are great. You’re doing a wonderful job, Ann, and it’s appreciated by all of us. I’ve been a Harvard boy at the Navy school out here for the past three months. Finish up here on May 27th and expect to arrive in Bovey around June 1 for a short leave. Don’t know what I’ll be doing or where after that. Thanks again for your letters in the Press and I’ll be seeing you the first of June. Sincerely, Ensign H. E. Mattson.”
Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – November 5, 1943 – “Dear Horace: I’ve moved again, so I’d appreciate very much if you would change the address on my subscription. I can’t miss the hometown news and the best place to get it is from the Press. I sure enjoy reading it. It’s the next best thing to being back in the good old town. I was surprised one day to receive orders to report to Harvard again. It’s my second time here. I was sent here to take a new specialized course of the Navy Supply Corps. I was put into this because of my practical and academic experience in accounting. It’s a very good course and follows my line in civilian life. I’ll be here for four months, I think. I want to thank the Service Men’s Club for their letters. They sure are doing a swell job. Received a promotion last month, so it’s Lieutenant (JG) now, instead of Ensign. Sincerely, H. E. Mattson.”
Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – February 18, 1944 – “Dear Friends: I want to apologize for the delay in expressing my appreciation for your very fine gift. We’ve been busy on reports and final exams in the last month here, so my time has been quite limited lately. I do want to thank you very much, and I know the rest of the boys as well as myself think it’s very swell of you. I’m just about ready to finish up here. I’ve received orders to my next duty station, and I’ll be on duty in the Chicago area for the next six months at least. Of course that wasn’t hard to take, because I’ll be in the Midwest and close to Minnesota. I also have a short leave coming up, so I’ll be up to see you in a short time. I hear the weather has been real mild up there this winter. I hope it stays that way when I get up there. I’m looking forward to it very much. I enjoy the Bovey Press and Ann’s letter immensely. You sure give us the news on what all the boys are doing, and that’s what we like to hear about. I’ll save the rest of the news till I get up there. Again – thanks very much for your gift. Sincerely, Lieut. (jg) H. E. Mattson.”
- Wars Involved:
World War II
- MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
H.E. Mattson was vice president of General Electric Corp. at the time of his death.
H.E. died in Cleveland, Ohio and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine, Minnesota (Block 120). He is survived by his wife, Barbara; a daughter, Valerie; two sons, Robert and Don Hilding; a sister Mrs. Clarence Mjolsness, and a brother, William.
- Tribal Affiliation(s):
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