Frank and Harold Mateja were born in Dorchester, Nebraska, in 1920 and 1925 respectively, two of the four sons of Frank and Agnes (Vlasak) Mateja, immigrants from Bohemia. Frank and Agnes were married in Libby, Montana, in 1911, and Frank Jr. and Harold's older brother Emil was born there in 1916. About 1917 the Mateja's moved to Dorchester, Nebraska, where Frank, Henry, and Harold were born. Frank and Harold both enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps about 1940. Frank enlisted in the First Special Service Force on August 11, 1942. He received parachute and ski training at Fort Harrison, in Helena, Montana. He was briefly deployed in Alaska to retake the island of Kiska from the Japanese. He then served in Italy, where he died January 6, 1944. Harold Mateja joined the Army Air Force and served in England and in the occupation of Germany. He graduated from Doane College in Nebraska in 1949. During the Korean War he re-enlisted and was assigned to Fort Riley, training recruits in the 10th Mountain Division. He eventually moved to Honolulu, Hawaii.
From the description of Harold M. Mateja papers, 1942-2008. (Montana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 639604456
