Leslie A. mathre
Photo courtesy of Diane Larson.
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Leslie Amlund “Les” Mathre was born Nov. 8, 1922 to Lewis J. and Sophie Amlund Mathre. He died Sept. 12, 2018 and is buried in Story City Cemetery, Story City, IA.
Leslie served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 334th Station Complement and 375th Air Base Headquarters Squadrons. He served in the Pacific Theater, was a survivor of Iwo Jima, and he photographed the signing of the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Dunlap. He was a past commander of American Legion Post 59 in Story City, IA. |
Story City Herald Articles
Draft Registration Card
Draft registration card front.
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Draft registration card back.
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Iowa Bonus File Application
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Photos Taken by Les of the Surrender of the Bonin Islands
The surrender of the Bonin Islands, which included Iwo Jima, happened aboard the USS Dunlap on September 3, 1945. The ceremony took place off Chichi Jima, an extremely heavily-fortified island located some 1000 kilometers southeast of Honshu. Lieutenant General Yoshio Tachibana, the local commander who signed the surrender documents, was later convicted and executed for a particularly gruesome series of war crimes perpetuated against U.S. aviators who had been captured in the area during 1944-451.
Photos Taken by Les of Dropping Bombs on Japan
Photos of Les
Other Photos in the Les Mathre's collection
Funeral Program - Courtesy of the Story City American Legion Post 59
