Lemuel Mathewson

Lemuel Mathewson
General Mathewson, circa 1951, Berlin
Born	March 29, 1899 Bath, New York
Died	February 26, 1970 (aged 70) Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, D.C.
Buried at	U.S. Military Academy Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1918–1958
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery 11th Airborne Division Artillery U.S. Berlin Command U.S. Communications Zone, Orleans, France U.S. V Corps U.S. Sixth Army
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star
Other work	Chairman, Inter-American Defense Board

Lemuel Mathewson (March 29, 1899 – February 26, 1970) was a United States Army lieutenant general.

Early career

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

• 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

• 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 Orleans, France.^[20]

Later career

• 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

General Mathewson's awards included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.^[26]

Later work

Mathewson served as Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board from 1958 to 1961.^[27][28][29]

Retirement and death

After retiring from the IADB Mathewson resided in McLean, Virginia. He died at Walter Reed Army Hospital on February 26, 1970.^[30] General Mathewson was buried in Section III Site A-24 of the U.S. Military Academy Cemetery.^[31]

References

1. Current Biography, published by H.W. Wilson Company, Volume 13, 1952, page 33
2. Steuben County History web site, Bath Area High School Graduates page
3. Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, published by the Association of Graduates, 1930, page 1704
4. Roster of Officers and Troops, United States Military Academy, 1932, page 5
5. Current Biography, published by H.W. Wilson Company
6. Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, 1930
7. A Soldier Reports, by General William Childs Westmoreland, 1976, Volume 1, page 14
8. Magazine article, Recommendations for Leavenworth and the War College, Lieutenant Colonel F.A. Doniat, The Field Artillery Journal, November–December, 1937, page 456
9. U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957, page 548
10. Annual Proceedings of the Legislature of Steuben County, published by Steuben County (N.Y.) Legislature, 2005, page 71
11. The Conferences at Cairo and Tehran, 1943, U.S. Department of State Historical Office, 1961, page xxxv
12. Army Information Digest, published by U.S. Armed Forces Information School, 1946, page 2
13. Ridgway's Paratroopers: the American Airborne in World War II, Clay Blair, 1985, page 483
14. Newspaper article, Caribbean Command Shifts, New York Times, September 1, 1945
15. Assembly, published by the West Point Alumni Association, 1949, volumes 8 to 9, page 22
16. The Angels: a History of the 11th Airborne Division, E.M. Flanagan, 1989, page 397
17. Newspaper article, U.S. Reinforces Berlin Garrison, Toledo Blade, January 15, 1951
18. Web page, History of the Berlin Brigade
19. Newspaper article, U.S. Will Relieve its Berlin Chief, New York Times, December 25, 1952
20. Newspaper article, To Take Over Post, by United Press International, published in Edwardsville (Illinois) Intelligencer, December 26, 1952
21. Newspaper article, 2 Generals Nominated by Ike for Promotions, Chicago Tribune, March 17, 1954
22. Notable Names in American History: a Tabulated Register, 1973, page 399
23. U.S. Army V Corps web site, leaders page
24. Newspaper article, 6th Army Chief to Retire, New York Times, January 16, 1958
25. Newspaper article, Elizabeth on Way to Canada by Air, New York Times, October 12, 1957
26. Official Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1960, page 1284
27. U.S. Government Manual, 1960, page 574
28. Annual Report, Organization of American States, 1961, page 11
29. Newspaper article, Gen. Mathewson Gets Defense Post, Hartford Courant, August 18, 1959
30. Newspaper article, Gen. Mathewson, Artilleryman, 70; Commander in Berlin From 1951 to 1953 Is Dead, New York Times, March 1, 1970
31. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Grave Site Locator