Matthew B. Juan
Encyclopedia
Mathew B. Juan - (May 28, 1918) was a Native American
hero of World War I
who died in the Battle of Cantigny
. Juan was the first Arizona
n to die in the war.
from the Gila River Indian Community
. Juan was born in San Tan, Pinal Co., Arizona April 22, 1892 to Joseph and Mary B. Juan. Mathew grew up in the small agricultural town of Sacaton, Arizona
(also the capital of the Gila River Indian Community). He stayed there until he reached high school and left for the Sherman Institute (an Indian boarding school) in Riverside, California
. Upon graduation, he joined a travelling circus.
In June 1917 Mathew registered his Selective Service Card
with the local draft board in Wichita Falls, Texas. Six months later he was drafted
. He joined the 6th Co. 1st Infantry Training Regiment on on December 11, 1917. He boarded the troopship SS Tuscania
in January 1918, bound for Le Havre
, France
. The Tuscania was torpedoed by a German U-boat February 5, 1918 in the North Channel (U.K.), and 200 American Troops perished along with an additional 65 crew members of the Tuscania. Mathew was rescued and taken to Ireland, and eventually made his way to the location of his regiment's encampment.
On May 21, 1918 Mathew was transferred to the 1st Division, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 28th Infantry, Company K. At 6:45 AM Tuesday May 28, 1918, the 28th Infantry attacked the German occupied area known as Cantigny, France. It was the first American offensive against German occupied territory in World War I. Mathew was killed from enemy Machine Gun fire while advancing on the German strong hold.
Mathew's body was temporarily buried in France. In 1921 the U.S. Military exhumed Mathews body and at the request of Mathew's mother, returned his body home to Arizona. Mathew's remains were delivered to the Fisher Funeral Home in Casa Grande, Arizona were preparations were made for the final burial at the Cook Memorial Church yard in Sacaton, Arizona. He was buried with honors April 9, 1921. Mathew was the first Arizonian to be killed in World War I.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
hero of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
who died in the Battle of Cantigny
Battle of Cantigny
The Battle of Cantigny, fought on 28 May 1918 was the first American offensive of World War I. The U.S. 1st Division, the most experienced of the seven American divisions then in France and in reserve for the French Army near the village of Cantigny, was selected for the attack...
. Juan was the first Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
n to die in the war.
Biography
Mathew Juan was a Pima IndianPima
The Pima are a group of American Indians living in an area consisting of what is now central and southern Arizona. The long name, "Akimel O'odham", means "river people". They are closely related to the Tohono O'odham and the Hia C-ed O'odham...
from the Gila River Indian Community
Gila River Indian Community
The Gila River Indian Community is an Indian reservation in the U.S. state of Arizona, lying adjacent to the south side of the city of Phoenix, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area in Pinal and Maricopa Counties. It was established in 1859, and formally established by Congress in 1939...
. Juan was born in San Tan, Pinal Co., Arizona April 22, 1892 to Joseph and Mary B. Juan. Mathew grew up in the small agricultural town of Sacaton, Arizona
Sacaton, Arizona
Sacaton is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census...
(also the capital of the Gila River Indian Community). He stayed there until he reached high school and left for the Sherman Institute (an Indian boarding school) in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
. Upon graduation, he joined a travelling circus.
In June 1917 Mathew registered his Selective Service Card
Selective Service System
The Selective Service System is a means by which the United States government maintains information on those potentially subject to military conscription. Most male U.S. citizens and male immigrant non-citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 are required by law to have registered within 30 days of...
with the local draft board in Wichita Falls, Texas. Six months later he was drafted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
. He joined the 6th Co. 1st Infantry Training Regiment on on December 11, 1917. He boarded the troopship SS Tuscania
SS Tuscania (1914)
The SS Tuscania was a luxury liner of the Cunard subsidiary Anchor Line, named after a town in Italy. She was torpedoed in 1918 by the German U-boat UB-77 while carrying American troops to Europe and sank with a loss of 210 lives.-Commercial career:...
in January 1918, bound for Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The Tuscania was torpedoed by a German U-boat February 5, 1918 in the North Channel (U.K.), and 200 American Troops perished along with an additional 65 crew members of the Tuscania. Mathew was rescued and taken to Ireland, and eventually made his way to the location of his regiment's encampment.
On May 21, 1918 Mathew was transferred to the 1st Division, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 28th Infantry, Company K. At 6:45 AM Tuesday May 28, 1918, the 28th Infantry attacked the German occupied area known as Cantigny, France. It was the first American offensive against German occupied territory in World War I. Mathew was killed from enemy Machine Gun fire while advancing on the German strong hold.
Mathew's body was temporarily buried in France. In 1921 the U.S. Military exhumed Mathews body and at the request of Mathew's mother, returned his body home to Arizona. Mathew's remains were delivered to the Fisher Funeral Home in Casa Grande, Arizona were preparations were made for the final burial at the Cook Memorial Church yard in Sacaton, Arizona. He was buried with honors April 9, 1921. Mathew was the first Arizonian to be killed in World War I.