Soldiers Medal Donald A. Mattoon
Donald A. Mattoon, one of four sons of Prank Mattoon of 477 Tenth Street in service, recently was awarded the Soldier's Medal for performance of an act of heroism involving voluntary risk of life under conditions other than those of conflict with the enemy.
Serving with Company D In t he 15th Tank Battalion of the Sixth Armored Division near Metz, France, the sergeant risked his life so that his unit might proceed into action.
A truck loaded with artillery ammunition was burning beside the road and another truck with trailer had been abandoned in a jackknifed position next to it after an attempt to pase. Approaching in the lead of a tank column, Sergeant Mattoon, without regard for his own safety, promptly dismounted, ran to the second truck and drove it forward, clearing the blocked road.
According to his citation, "His fearless action in the face of an impending explosion relieved dangerous congestion on the road and enabled the column to continue." The medal was given him later in Germany.
He was born in this city and spent most of his life here, attending both the Stillwater and the Troy High Schools. He was employed by the Public View Bakery before entering service in August, 1942. He has been overseas since last October.
Also in the armed forces are three brothers: S/Sgt. William Mattoon who has been in service 12 years and was at Pearl Harbor at the time of the sneak attack and now is in France after fighting in Germany; Pvt. Charles Mattoon, now in Germany, and S l / c Raymond Mattoon in the South Pacific.
Source: THE TIMES RECORD, TROY, N.Y. THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 21, 1945