Hobert Winebrenner’s Visit to John Mateyko.

Last week, we brought you a couple of posts on the passing of John Mateyko, former commanding officer of Company M, 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division. Mateyko and Hobert Winebrenner worked often together during the war as captain and sergeant, respectively. They formed a special bond, that would last well after war’s end. In his book, BOOTPRINTS, Winebrenner spoke of tracking his former leader down.

“No one from our unit, none of us, had heard anything from or about Mateyko since the war,” Winebrenner remembered. “In the mid-1990s, believing it to be now or never, I attempted to locate my old captain. I still had his wartime address from East Conemaugh, Pennsylvania, and started my search there. I stopped by his old house, but no one knew him.

Hobert Winebrenner and John Mateyko reunite outside Mateyko's Glenview, Illinois home.

“On a whim, I tried the local barbershop. Not only was the barber familiar with Mateyko, but this guy’s sister graduated from high school with him and was now the secretary of their class reunions. After a quick call, I left with Mateyko’s address miraculously in hand.

“Opening the door to his Glenview, Illinois, home, he didn’t recognize me at first. It had been over fifty years. I wanted to keep him guessing, but my wife, Marian couldn’t take it anymore, and let it out.

“Oh, what a flood of emotions! Two tough old soldiers definitely shed some tears that day.”

Mateyko and Winebrenner stayed in touch following this initial reunion. Sadly, both are now gone.

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