CHARLES H. MATHEWSON
Fireman First Class · Plankowner, USS Silversides (SS-236)
| Born / Died | 20 Nov 1917, Bingham (obituary) / 6 Jan 1996 |
| Service no. | 337-15-69 |
| Commissioning rate | F1c (15 Dec 1941) |
| Silversides tenure | 15 Dec 1941 – 20 Jul 1943 |
| Patrols aboard | 4 per the file; his dates bracket 5 (pending) |
| Other vessels | Sailfish (SS-192), Pilotfish (SS-386, plankowner) |
| Service | Retired after 21 years (obituary); BIRLS 20 Nov 1946 – 16 Nov 1950 |
Prewar (1917–1941)
Charles Mathewson was born on 20 November 1917 in Bingham, the son of Charles Edward and Agnes (Spray Paddock) Mathewson, according to his obituary. The 1920 census finds the family in Greenwood Township, Illinois, where his father was a farm laborer; Charles was two, with a sister, Ina (5). Before the war he served in Sailfish (SS-192), the former Squalus.
On Silversides (Dec 1941 – Jul 1943)
Mathewson commissioned aboard *Silversides* on 15 December 1941 as F1c. On 20 July 1943, the day before her sixth patrol sailed, he left for COMSUBDIV 82 for duty.
Patrol table pending: his file counts four war patrols, but his dates bracket patrols 1 through 5.
Later War (1943–1945)
He was a plankowner of the new boat Pilotfish (SS-386), stayed aboard until 24 December 1944 and left as CMoMM(AA)(T). He was present for her first three war patrols.
Postwar (1945–1996)
BIRLS records no World War II service and gives 20 November 1946 to 16 November 1950; a postwar compliance card supplied the birth date that matches it. He married Betty Fisher of New London, Connecticut, on 7 December 1945. The 1950 census finds him in New London, an Engineman in the Navy, with Betty (27) and their son Charles E. (3). He retired from the Navy after twenty-one years’ service and worked for the W. M. Hales company of Hillsboro. He died on 6 January 1996, and his obituary appeared in the Taylorville Daily Breeze-Courier on 9 January.
Research Notes
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Patrol count: the file says 4, but 20 Jul 1943 falls after patrol 5 ended (1 Jul) and before patrol 6 sailed (21 Jul), which brackets 5. Find which patrol he missed.
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Pilotfish: a Crossroads target. He was on her first three war patrols.
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Sailfish: shares a muster with Thomas E. Parson.
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Stub heading: the old stub spelled the name “MATHESON”; the frontmatter and obituary have Mathewson.
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BIRLS: the 1946–1950 span does not match twenty-one years’ service.
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Source notes (carried over, verbatim):
1920 Census Charles Mathewson (24) and Agnes S (22) Ina M (5) and Charles H (2) living in Greenwood Township, IL. Charles Sr was a farm laborer.
1950 Census New London CT. Charles H Mathewson (32) and Betty B (27). One son Charles E (3). Charles is listed as an Engineman in the Navy.
Left for COMSUBDIV 82 for duty on 20 Jul 43.
Plankowner of the USS Pilotfish (SS-386). Remained aboard through 24 Dec 44 and left at CMoMM(AA)(T). Pilotfish is another Crossroad target. Mathewson was present for the first 3 Pilotfish war patrols.
Served on Sailfish prior to the war, the ex-Squalus.
“Mr. Mathewson was born November 20, 1917 in Bingham, the son of Charles Edward and Agnes Spray Paddock Mathewson. He married Betty Fisher of New London, Conn., December 7, 1945. He was employed by the W. M. Hales company of Hillsboro and retired from the US Navy after 21 years of service.”
Sources: 1920 and 1950 census; BIRLS; postwar compliance card; Taylorville Daily Breeze-Courier, 9 Jan 1996; Silversides muster and ROC.