Century of Service: Celebrating World War II Veteran Mathew E. Otey at 105
By Jeff Clements, Public Affairs Specialist
On his 105th birthday, World War II U.S. Army Veteran Mathew E. Otey stands as living proof of a remarkable century of service, skill, and quiet perseverance.
From New Kent County, Virginia, to the battle zones of the Pacific and back home again, his life has traced the arc of American history across more than ten decades.
A young mechanic goes to war
Long before reaching 105, Mathew Otey had already built a reputation as a talented mechanic, completing training at the Virginia State Mechanics School in Petersburg, Virginia. When his country called during World War II, those hands‑on skills made him an ideal fit for the Army’s growing need for technical expertise. He entered the U.S. Army and trained at Mechanic School, Camp Sutton, North Carolina, in an automobile mechanic course designed to prepare Soldiers to repair and maintain vehicles under rugged field conditions.
Technical Sergeant in the Pacific
Assigned to Company “A,” 1315th Engineers, Otey served as an Automotive Mechanic, a role that kept him responsible for the vehicles that moved troops, supplies, and equipment. His service took him to New Guinea and Luzon in the Asiatic‑Pacific theater, where mud, mountains, and jungles punished every truck and engine he touched. There he overhauled engines, replaced worn parts, and kept vital vehicles running so that others could complete their missions.
His decorations tell the story of those years abroad: the American Theater Service Medal, Asiatic‑Pacific Service Medal with two bronze service stars, Philippine Liberation Medal with one bronze service star, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Each ribbon pinned to his chest reflected long months away from home and steadfast dedication to the Soldiers who depended on his work.
Home again
After foreign service beginning in July 1943 and a long stretch of duty that continued even after his return to the United States, Otey’s wartime chapter formally closed on 18 February 1946. At the Separation Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he was honorably discharged as a Technical Sergeant, his certificate commending his “Honest and Faithful Service to this country” and bearing the signature of Lieutenant Colonel Ben B. Mabson Jr.
With his mechanic’s expertise sharpened by war and his character tested under pressure, he came home to Providence Forge, Virginia, to resume civilian life.
A grateful nation at his side
Now, on the occasion of his 105th birthday, the nation he served continues to serve him. He receives home‑based primary care from the Richmond VA Medical Center, allowing him to remain in the comfort of his own home while still getting the regular medical attention he needs. He is deeply pleased with this arrangement and especially values having registered nurses and providers visit him, sparing him the strain of traveling to the hospital for routine care.
Antonio Clinkscales is a registered nurse working in Home-Based Primary care for the Central Virginia VA Health Care System, and has been visiting Mr. Otey for the past year, providing health checks and is part of the team monitoring his care.
“Mr. Otey is an amazing human being, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. He always greets me with a positive attitude and a bright personality whenever I visit,” Clinkscales said. “I can honestly say that Mr. Otey is one of the best visits I’ve been blessed to make while providing primary care in the home. Our Home-Based Primary Care program brings an interdisciplinary team of clinicians directly into Veterans’ homes, coordinating their medical, nursing, and supportive needs across every part of the VA so they can remain safe, comfortable, and independent where they live. Caring for Mr. Otey through this program has been a true honor.”
Otey continues to live on his own and gets around remarkably well. He feeds the cats that live in his neighborhood and tends a small strawberry patch and little garden on his property. Family and friends recently filled his home for a birthday celebration complete with a yard banner and sign in the window honoring this major milestone.
As loved ones and caregivers look back on his 105 years, they celebrate not only a remarkable age, but the enduring legacy of a Technical Sergeant who kept the wheels of war turning, came home to build a life in Virginia, and now enjoys the honor, respect, and care he richly deserves. Happy 105th birthday, Mathew E. Otey. Thank you for a lifetime of strength, service, and for being a remarkable example of this nation’s greatest generation.