Marilyn and the Mattoon family, please accept the condolences of the Troopers of the 11th Armored Cavalry's veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia.  Steven was a dedicated and hard-charging warrior, one of us, one of our own. He served courageously with the Legendary Blackhorse Regiment in K Troop in 1966 and 1967, and will be remembered as an honorable trooper whose very presence brought comfort and support to his fellow troopers. His name will be included on the Honor Roll of our combat veterans and may all generations call him blessed as he was willing in the spirit of America to sacrifice and take up arms to protect and care for his fellow man. His service in Vietnam highlighted his bravery and valor and was guided with the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry amoung other awards.    As grateful Americans we should all pause and salute a man who was willing to put his life on the line for his country. As our burial liturgy states: “ … his life has not ended, merely changed ..." and as we were together then in Vietnam, we will be together again in the life hereafter, warmly embraced in the arms of our Heavenly Father.

Chaplain Bill, 11th ACVVC (Vietnam 71-72)  

Our Big Red One Rangers and LRRPs mourn the loss of Cahuna, a true leader, a brave and rational soldier, and an inspiration to all who served under him. His earlier leadership with our unit forged a legacy of respect and excellence, embodying the essence of a Soldier's Soldier. Cahuna not only respected life but also imparted to many Rangers the true art of war, earning admiration across ranks with many lessons to future Rangers.

Billy Goshen’s book War Paint (Chapter 20, "The Tragic Truth") immortalizes the events of November 20, 1968, when Cahuna and his team entered the perilous Trapezoid, a region heavily traversed by VC and NVA forces. Amidst relentless enemy fire, SSG Mattoon and 1SG Cook flew out to establish a relay station near the compromised teams. Demonstrating steadfast leadership, Cahuna and 1SG joined the effort, staying in contact with the teams despite the chaos. They quickly assessed the overwhelming enemy presence, advocating for a decisive infantry operation. Despite Cahuna’s pleas to not insert Teams 4 and 11, Division operations approved only their minimal reinforcements, leaving our men exposed to what was described as “simple, cut-and-drive abuse and misuse.”

Tragically, on that fateful mission, Team 11 suffered devastating losses. Pfc Conyers, the lone survivor, heroically signaled for rescue after enduring severe injuries, despite the horrors inflicted by enemy forces. Cahuna's leadership during these dire moments was a testament to his unwavering commitment to his men.

Even in the face of these hardships, Cahuna continued to lead with extraordinary courage. In a bold retaliatory mission, he spearheaded a 28-man LRRP platoon back into hostile territory, delivering a heavy blow to the enemy. His strategic prowess was evident in every operation, from eliminating threats on the battlefield to minimizing risks for his men. Cahuna’s leadership turned the tide of engagements, inflicting heavy losses on the VC and NVA while maintaining the relentless spirit of our Rangers.

Later missions, including one just days after the aforementioned events, highlighted Cahuna’s tactical brilliance. SFC Mattoon, under his command, confronted enemy forces head-on, achieving remarkable success despite overwhelming odds. Cahuna’s ingenuity and resolve ensured his men’s actions continued to exact a steep toll on the enemy, often at great personal risk.

Cahuna’s and his fellow leaders' advocacy for the proper use of Rangers as reconnaissance units ultimately led to vital changes. His efforts contributed to revised operational directives, reducing unnecessary casualties and preserving lives while maintaining the effectiveness of our missions. SFC Mattoon’s small unit, although experiencing one of the highest KIA ratios, consistently outperformed much larger units in enemy casualties—a testament to the exceptional leadership that Cahuna embodied.

Cahuna’s service and sacrifice leave behind a profound legacy, forever etched in the hearts of those who served with him.  He will always be remembered as a brave leader, a mentor, and a hero who carried the weight of his mission with unparalleled honor and courage.

Always supportive. Always immensely respected. Always giving. Loved by many who are fortunate to call him a friend.

Steve is an example of the man we aspire to be.

A close friend of Steve's sent me a link to an article in "Patrolling". This was published in 2006 and included the picture in Vietnam that I posted below. I removed the portions of the article that detailed the other three sergeants simply for length and focus. 

Steve was an amazing man who is being honored by so many men! 

BY: Dave Flores 

We all have heard the old saying, the sergeants run the Army. There is no doubting the veracity of that statement. As I sit with my thoughts and memories of my time in the Vietnam War, I invariably seem to think of some sergeant with whom I had the great fortune of serving over there. At our unit reunions, the conversation generally ends up talking about one of those sergeants. Thats right, those guys that are the back bone of the Army, and have been since man first formed armies. They are the men that showed us what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. The guys thatwhile always ensuring that the missions were completed also looked after our welfare. We were never just names or numbers to them, but their personal charges and they took that responsibility and duty extremely seriously. Though I served with many great NCOs, I will only be writing about four that I served with and got to know well during my tour in Vietnam. Each had something different to offer all the young soldiers. Their leadership styles varied, but they always got the results required. They are all exceptional men; doing a tough job, while also endeavoring to get all of us safely home. With rare exception they succeeded in doing so. The four sergeants I am writing about are SFC (and 1st Sgt.) Jim Morton, SSgt. Steve Mattoon, SSgt. Mike Sharp and SFC (later Command Sgt. Major) John Tapia. They were all career soldiers that took what the Army gave them (we FNGs) and made us into warriors. More than just warriors, they taught us the skills and mentality needed to be LURPS.

Sergeant Mattoon: The team I was on worked with his team up in Quan Loi. The two teams worked quite together for quite a while up there. Mattoon loved the field; and he also loved screwing with the Green Berets back at Quan Loi base camp. The missions were frequent and some were strictly voluntary. Mattoon was all-Army and also a rebel. Whatever the situation required, he would meet it. He could make the General give up his stars if the team needed them. Hildebrandt (AKA Giant) and I linked up with Mattoon in Reno a few years ago. It was like he had never changed. Still built like a linebacker. He was another one of those sergeants with whom, after nearly four decades, we finally made contact. At dinner, Giant and I raised our glasses to him and said, Thanks for the lessons you taught us. Thanks for the close in B52 strike; it was a keeper. Thanks for scaring the shit out us on countless occasions, but always bringing the team back intact.

In closing, these four sergeants all taught me something. They all left something that I would later use in life. To them I say: I would have gone to gates of Hell with you! We would have knocked then said, We are here to kick your ass Gentlemen, I thank you all