Pictures are courtesy of Jamie Mattson (nephew)
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PFC - E3 - Army - Selective Service
20 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on Nov 02, 1947 From EAST PEORIA, ILLINOIS His tour of duty began on Oct 23, 1967 Casualty was on Jan 12, 1968 in BINH DUONG, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS Body was recovered Religion ROMAN CATHOLIC Panel 34E - - Line 38 More information on January 12, 1968 |
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Bernie ("Matt") was my dad's youngest brother. I was 13 when Bernie died. As you can guess, it was traumatic for our family. Thanks to an accidental discovery of Roger Hayes book, ON POINT, I am now gathering information on Bernie's time in Vietnam. If anyone has any memories or information about him, please contact me at
KAHouser252@aol.com
KAHouser252@aol.com
Bernard Mattson, from Peoria, Illinois, was called Matt by his friends in the 2d Platoon of C Company. Matt arrived in Vietnam in October 1967, and was killed during a mortar attack on January 12, 1968. C Company's mission that day was to cordon off and search a suspected VC village. The company surrounded the village, and then half of each platoon entered to conduct the search while the remaining half remained on the perimeter to prevent any VC from escaping and reinforcements, if any, from arriving. During the search, VC mortar rounds fell among the 2d Platoon forces on the perimeter. Mattson was the only casualty. A small piece of shrapnel entered his left side, under his armpit, and pierced his heart. He was 20 years of age.
Roger Hayes
Roger Hayes
