Cliff Mathis, a 102-year-old military veteran, shared stories of his military service while his wife of 71 years, Alice, listens. Mathis fibbed about his age to enlist in the Missouri National Guard when only 17 years old and later became an officer, serving overseas during World War II. Photo by Jeremy Amick

Clifford Mathis has many wonderful reflections of growing up in Kansas City, including selling peanuts and popcorn at the Kansas City Blues baseball games at the former Muehlebach Field. One of his fondest memories, he explained, was trying to follow in the footsteps of an older brother who had joined the Missouri National Guard.

"Little brother likes to be like big brother, so I fibbed about my age and enlisted in the 110th Engineers in February 1935, when I was only 17 years old," he recalled with a grin.

The young enlistee was assigned to the medical detachment and attended drill periods 7-9 p.m. every Wednesday at the old armory located at 3610 Main St. in Kansas City. During these two-hour drill periods, he learned the basics of soldiering in addition to the treatment of a variety of wounds, but never attended a formal basic training.

Working a variety of jobs to make a little money in addition to performing his duties with the Missouri National Guard, Mathis noted the day of Dec. 23, 1940, is one that remains forever etched in his memory.

"President Roosevelt mobilized the National Guard more than a year before Pearl Harbor, and that's the day we had to report to the armory, suit up and then drive to Joplin," he said. "Then we were sent on to Camp Robinson (Little Rock, Arkansas) with the entire 35th Division — that was a lot of guys!" he exclaimed.

For the next year, the 110th Engineers participated in training and maneuvers to prepare them for service in an overseas combat zone, which included war games in Louisiana and Minnesota. One day, the veteran noted, an announcement came on the radio declaring: "Attention all military personnel! All passes furloughs and leaves canceled."

Mathis explained, "We returned to base and found out about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Within a day or two after the attack, we loaded on trains and headed west, spending several months in California as coastal defense," he added.

During the summer of 1942, although he had achieved the rank of staff sergeant, Mathis decided he wanted to become an officer and was accepted for officer training. Slotted to become an engineer officer, he was sent to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for his officer candidate school.

"I finished the training in late 1942 and became a second lieutenant with a certificate that said 'temporary appointment,'" he chuckled. "I remember there was a U.S. Army colonel involved in our training who said, 'You can't put the wisdom of age in the minds of babes in just three months,'" Mathis mockingly recounted.

Following a brief period of leave back in St. Louis, Lt. Mathis traveled to Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, where he underwent several months of additional training as an engineer officer, learning such skills as constructing roads. He later became commander of Company D, 335th Engineer Regiment and, in March 1943, received orders to deploy overseas.

Traveling to Fort Dix, New Jersey, by train, the regiment boarded the SS Sloterdijk — a Dutch transport converted to a troop carrier — and made the two-week journey to the harbor at Oran, Algeria.

"One of our first responsibilities as an engineer outfit after arriving in North Africa was to set up the water supply for a tent city," the former officer said. "We assembled a large water tank and ran pipes to all of the areas that needed it."

Another important assignment came weeks later, when Mathis' company was given the project of repairing a villa that was to serve as a headquarters for high-ranking officers.

"The villa was quite beautiful and sat on a high hill overlooking the Mediterranean," he said. "We checked out everything and made any necessary repairs to the plumbing and electrical in the buildings."

Although Mathis did not at the time realize for whom the repairs were being performed, weeks later, he received a letter of commendation from Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower — a five-star commanding general of World War II and future president.

"From North Africa, our company was sent to Corsica and our first job was to build a hospital. Then," he continued, "they sent us to cut lumber for the U.S. Army, which they used for flooring, walkways and building latrines. We had to use mules to drag the lumber down from the mountains where it had been cut."

Months later, they would enter southern France and go on to repair docks destroyed by retreating German forces. Victory and Liberty ships then utilized the rebuilt docks to deliver supplies and equipment in support of the Allies.

"When we finally got into Germany, one of our final projects was repairing a bridge that had been damaged by the Germans," Mathis said. "That was memorable because my sergeants came up to me when we were finished, handed me a hammer, and told me I could drive the final nail into the completed bridge."

Returning to the U.S. in November 1945, Mathis received his discharge from the U.S. Army at Jefferson Barracks on Feb. 18, 1946. In 1948, he married Alice, and the couple went on to raise one daughter. In the years after the war, the veteran worked for truck leasing companies, eventually retiring from Rollins Truck Leasing when he turned 65.

When asked if he was proud of his military service, Mathis bluntly explained, "I guess I wouldn't say I'm proud; I'm just glad that I got to serve and do my part."

Smiling, he added, "I wanted to be there — I wanted to be part of it all even if it meant lying about my age back when I was 17 years old."

Jeremy P. Amick writes on behalf of the Silver Star Families of America.