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Pedro (Peter) Matanane: CHamoru World War I Army Infantry Veteran
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
Pedro (Peter) Matanane: CHamoru World War I Army Infantry Veteran
Service No. 2278333
It’s pretty cool to work on a research project that ends up leading to a sidebar manifesting towards the development of working on another research topic of interest. While working on the CHamoru Mess Attendants/Stewards Project, I became fixated with members of the Matanane family. I am drawn to their family because I am related to the ones that also have Anderson roots, specifically manggåfan/familian CHe’. This journey has led me to discover more about the life of Pedro Matanane, who is the first CHamoru World War I Army veteran I have come across with the CHamoru Roots Genealogy Project.
Pedro was born on Guam, April 14 1895. He is the son of Josefa Matanane[1] and Joaquin Matanane Martinez[2]. From the 1920 church census Pedro was recorded as living in San Francisco, California. I am also able to ascertain that he had a brother named Jose (Peping), who married Maria Pereda Anderson (manggåfan CHe’, my grandmother’s sister). His Uncle, Juan Matanane (brother of Josefa), although listed with his family, was also noted as residing in San Francisco, California. All the families in the census figure below appear to be adjoining neighbors and reinforce that they were very close in their day-to-day relationships.
[1] Josefa Matanane and her son Pedro are listed on page 95 of the 1920 church census of Guam. Because this was a church census led by a Spanish priest, the names were recorded using Spanish conventions and notes. Therefore, females were recorded with their first names and maiden surnames, and males were recorded with their first name followed by their paternal surname and then maternal surname.
[2] Pedro’s marriage certificate identifies his father as Joaquin Martinez Matanane and his mother, whose surname was listed as a question mark but with the first name as “Josephine.”
Read more: Pedro (Peter) Matanane: CHamoru World War I Army Infantry Veteran
CHamoru Mess Attendants/Stewards Project
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
In collaboration with Art Meilicke, author of the “United States Naval Career of Jesus Arriola Leon Guerrero: 1 December 1937 - 2 December 1957,” we are looking for some young and energetic people to collaborate and help research, collect, write, and record stories of CHamoru people that joined the U.S. Navy as Mess Attendants/Stewards prior to World War II.
If you are currently in high school or college, this is great opportunity to write a paper on this particular topic, not only to fulfill education requirements, but to help document and publish these stories. Art Meilicke has amassed several sources of information and documents regarding CHamoru men who enlisted in the U.S. Navy prior to World War II.
If you are family members or descendants of these men, we would certainly appreciate your help with documents, photos and any recordings you can share to help fuel this effort of interest towards documenting and telling the stories of these unique group of people.
We are also looking for people to get this word out and if willing to help with this project in some way shape or form.
Please share this special call of effort! Family and friends involved in the academic, we seek your support as well. Every bit of information is valued.
All the collaboration and volunteer effort is being featured on FaceBook link below. Please join us in helping to tell their stories for generations to come.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/725585081180031/?source_id=103556421315315
Read more on what Art Meilicke has compiled to date...
United States Naval Career of Jesus Arriola Leon Guerrero: 1 December 1937 - 2 December 1957
- Details
- Written by: Arthur W. Meilicke
I have chosen to write about this period of my father’s-in-law life in a more formal manner, using his given name rather than, “Pop,” as the family referred to him, or “Chu.” In the event that other than family members or younger descendants read this document, it is important that they know the name of the man who lived these events and, as best as we can, how he lived them. “Your life is a work of art, and in the end, the underlying theme of great art is bravery and hope and love.” -- Garrison Keillor Jesus Arriola Leon Guerrero created his work of art.
I knew that Jesus served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and Korea, but I knew very little about the details of his experiences or service. His children didn’t know much about this period either. Navy Muster Rolls from 1939 -1949 found on Ancestry.com documented the ships upon which Jesus served during World War II. Researching the history of these ships provided some insight into what he may have experienced, but what one might imagine would be entirely speculative. There was no information about his service beyond 1945. As my curiosity peaked, I wanted to find out more about Jesus’ service, so I recommended Elizabeth (for younger generations reading this, his daughter) request a copy of his Official Military Personnel File (OPMF.) When the record came, examination of the documents provided specific details about his service, to include battles and campaigns in which Jesus participated, commendations, and medals awarded. I soon discovered, however, that there were a number of omissions and errors in his OMPF as service/battle stars earned were not accurately noted or documented, that other awards for which he was eligible were not awarded, and in some cases not recommended. His extensive amount of sea duty was not noted either. (~Art Meilicke)
*Reproduced by permission of the author.
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