▁H . ▁Math es on ▁( 1 1 ▁August ▁ 1 9 2 0 ▁– ▁ 8 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 5 ) ▁was ▁a ▁general ▁officer ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁who ▁served ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁the ▁Korean ▁War , ▁and ▁the ▁Vietnam ▁War . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁education ▁Sal ve ▁H . ▁Math es on ▁was ▁born ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁August ▁ 1 9 2 0 ▁to ▁S . ▁E . ▁Math es on ▁and ▁El sa ▁Math es on ▁in ▁Seattle , ▁Washington ; ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁second ▁of ▁four ▁children . ▁His ▁mat ernal ▁grand father , ▁Anders ▁S par ring , ▁was ▁co - found er ▁of ▁the ▁Swedish ▁Metal ▁Work ers ▁Union ▁and ▁a ▁close ▁friend ▁of ▁H jal mar ▁Br ant ing . ▁Short ly ▁after ▁Sal ve ' s ▁birth , ▁the ▁Math es on ▁Family ▁moved ▁to ▁the ▁Mon ter ey ▁Pen ins ula ▁where ▁Math es on ▁grew ▁up ▁and ▁attended ▁school . ▁Math es on ▁was ▁commission ed ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁through ▁the ▁Reserve ▁Offic ers ' ▁Training ▁Corps ▁program ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁California , ▁Los ▁Angeles , ▁of ▁which ▁he ▁was ▁a ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁gradu ate ▁with ▁a ▁Bach elor ▁of ▁Arts ▁degree ▁in ▁Liberal ▁Arts . ▁ ▁Military ▁career ▁Math es on ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁ 5 0 6 th ▁Par ach ute ▁Infantry ▁Regiment ▁in ▁the ▁U . S . ▁and ▁in ▁Europe ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II