March 1st, 2025
By SGM (Ret.) Larry Jordan
America lost one of its greatest Special Operations Soldiers on 20th January 2025
Steve “Boom Boom” Mattoon passed from this life surrounded by his loving wife Marilyn and other family members in Casper, Wyoming where he spent the final years of his life surrounded by a loving family.
Authors Note: The following article content is based upon my personal reflections, memories and experiences with Steve (his preferred name). As was noted by his Grandson on a Memorial web page, Steve “was many things to many people”! That is indeed true, and this article is written based on my personal memories and experiences. I was fortunate to serve with, be trained and mentored by Steve. We have trained others together and under his supervision in the course of my fifty years knowing him. I did not serve in combat with Steve but I have spoken to several men who did serve in combat with him. I have heard them speak glowingly of Steve’s honor, fearlessness and bravery in combat. This is from men who personally knew him, served with or knew of him by his reputation. To a man, they had all been impressed and inspired by Steve for the manner that he conducted himself in combat.
| Photos shared from the personal library of Marilyn Mattoon |
Steve Mattoon, a “Living legend” in the Special Operations, especially in the Army Ranger community faithfully served the United States of America for more than six decades. From the jungles of SE Asia to Mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq and other Middle East “Hot spots”
STEVE’S EARLY AND FORMATIVE YEARS – THE FORGING OF A WARRIOR
Steve grew up at the time of the Pearl Harbor, Japanese “surprise” attack on America. Because of the horrible conditions that existed during and after the attack which led to America going to the war with Japan, Steve’s Father asked a close personal friend who was the head of a Japanese-American family to help care for Steve. During Steve’s early childhood he was exposed to the traditional Japanese family home, so he learned and lived the Asian culture that he was exposed to as a young boy. That experience would serve him well years later when he volunteered for the US Army in 1959 and for service in Viet Nam, during the early years of US involvement in the war.
It was in a combat environment that Steve excelled and shined the most. He was a “hard-core” natural warrior and leader who inspired all who served with or around him. Steve served multiple “combat tours” in Viet Nam in the 1960’s, beginning in the early years of the war. He served with Army Special Forces, Special Operations units and later with Army Ranger units deep inside enemy held territory. In 1968, Steve was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with “V” (Valor) device for his heroic actions while serving as a Ranger Patrol Leader whose patrol came under deadly attack. Many of the operations Steve engaged in were and some still are highly classified in nature.
After retiring from the active Army, in 1982, Steve was requested to be a US Government Contractor in Saudi Arabia to train the Saudi National Guard on Leadership, weapons systems and tactics. He would later go on to lead a major Executive Protection Operation for the Saudi Royal family.
Due to his superior knowledge, experience and skills, Steve was requested and took part in the Security Planning, training and Operations for the International Goodwill Games held in Seattle, WA in 1990.
Steve’s unmatched knowledge of explosives and special tactics led to him being one of the best known trainers for SWAT/Tactical Law Enforcement teams in the US. Steve wrote and had published one of the very first SWAT manuals for Law Enforcement Tactical units that at the time were just being formed nationwide and became an integral part of every Law Enforcement Agency. Steve trained Law Enforcement SWAT teams at every level from local, State and Federal law enforcement. He became widely known and respected by all of those who he trained.
Steve was known not just for his exceptional knowledge and experience but he was also respected even loved by many of the cops he trained and mentored over their careers.
Personal note; Steve had a great sense of humor and he loved to make others laugh as much as he did himself. Steve and I shared many good laughs over the years and to this day, I smile thinking of some of those times. Anyone who spent time with him knew or learned of his great sense of humor.
BACK TO HIS ROOTS
Never forgetting his roots, the Rangers in Vietnam, Steve began focusing on those who were conducting extremely high risks missions and he provided them direct specialty training. This was especially true for the newly formed 75th Ranger Regiment headquartered at Fort Benning, GA in 2005. Steve ran a Tactical Training school next to Ft. Benning, GA where he taught Special Operations Operators a variety of Special skills including Sniper, Recon and Explosives Breaching, a specialty skill required for Counter-terrorist units. Steve was a “Rock Star” within the Ranger community. His training has saved many men’s lives in the civilian Police world and in the Combat environments where America’s most elite Special Operations units have served.
NEVER REALLY RETIRED
Even after years of being officially retired from active duty in the US Army in 1982, Steve never failed to accept and conduct the most dangerous missions in support of US National objectives. Steve while in his “Senior” years was called on a few times by our country’s most senior military Officers and Government Officials to go and do things that others would not or could not do. His special assignments took him to Iraq, Afghanistan and other very dangerous “hot spots”.
As a “civilian”, Steve worked with Special Operations units, teams, individuals and even on his own in some of most desolate, dangerous and austere environments in the world. And as always, he led his men from the front which is a true leadership trait and in the ethos of every great leader.
On that point I’d like to say that I’ve been with Steve in official and non-official environments where I observed first-hand just how respected as a leader Steve was. At seven separate Ranger Reunions and events over the years, men of all ranks including a General grade Officer, would approach Steve greet him and thank him for his excellent leadership. Again, these men were of all ranks from lower enlisted to senior Non-Commissioned (NCO) and Warrant and Commissioned Officers.
I was always impressed by that and especially how humble, gracious and respectful Steve was with every man, regardless of their rank or position. It was truly inspiring to watch that up close. Several men who knew him well confided in me that they “would even go on a “suicide” mission” if Steve was leading it. As a Soldier there is no higher compliment for a leader.
Always the consummate Instructor and trainer, Steve continued to train Counter-Terrorist forces from the US and our allies in Explosive Breaching. This, earned him the reputation as one of the very few and best Master Explosive “Breachers” in the world. He shared his extensive knowledge, expertise and experience with some of our best allies around the world. He was also given an award for “Excellence” for his contributions to the Breachers community.
STILL NOT RETIRED
Steve remained active well into his seventies, teaching, training and consulting major Military and Law Enforcement Agencies around the country.
His professional reputation was one of the greatest of all of the truly great Special Operations Soldiers I have been honored to know, including Medal of Honor Recipients, in my 24 years Army career and more than 20 years since my retirement.
THE CLOSE-COMBAT MASTER “STUDENT”
Steve and I had many conversations about the Martial Arts in general and in particular, Military Close-Quarters Combat (CQC) which is Unarmed or Hand-to-hand Combat and Close-Quarters Battle (CQB) which is armed combat during our five decade friendship. Steve would often describe himself as a serious “student” of the Martial Arts during his long life. In particular, he often spoke of Close-Combat, including CQC and CQB. Steve personally knew COL Rex Applegate, who is the Patriarch of the ICCIA. They shared a mutual respect and fondness for one another. The “COL” had the highest respect for Steve.
Steve not only taught Hand-to-hand Combat to America’s most elite soldiers, he personally used CQC and CQB to “Neutralize” our nation’s enemies up close and personal in the course of his life span of more than six decades.
INTERNATIONAL CLOSE-COMBAT INSTRUCTORS ASSOC. (ICCIA) MEMBER #007
When Geoff “Tank” Todd of New Zealand and I first founded the International Close-Combat Instructors Association (ICCIA) in 1991, Steve was one of the very first men I wanted to join us. I personally recruited him shortly after we formed the ICCIA and he became member # 007, which was coincidental but truly appropriate for a Man who lived and operated in the shadows most of his life. Steve also appeared in the ICCIA training DVD entitled “Extreme CQB” (1998) that we made at Las Vegas where we had one of our largest and best ICCIA Conventions. Paladin Press was there; they filmed and produced the video in 1998.
On a very personal note, As someone who was fortunate to call Steve my Brother and Mentor for 50 years, I can’t put into words my deep and sincere love and respect I have had for him. Steve has had such a profound impact on my life that there has not been a day since his passing on 20 January that I don’t think about and miss him. In the final year of his life, Steve would call me almost weekly. He never told me of his severe health issues, I only learned of it by his amazing and loving wife Marilyn. She always kept me in the loop especially when his health worsened, but that was our little secret. Steve, never whined about anything negative in his life, he just took it and dealt with it. I don’t ever remember him complaining about anything relating to his health situation or anything else that was personal.
STEVE A HAPPY HALO “SKY GOD”
Steve and I first met in October 1974 and in early 1975 we began serving as part of the initial 100 unit members upon the Activation and forming of the 2d Ranger Battalion, 75th (INF). Steve was selected to serve by unit Commanders and I was recruited by the first Battalion Commander, LTC A.J. “Bo” Baker.
Thinking back to our days together in the 2d Ranger Battalion as I often do, I always think about a particular experience with Steve that I had, one that I have always cherished and still do to this day. In 1977, the 2d Ranger Battalion sent its first Rangers to attend the Special Forces Military Freefall (HALO) School at Fort Bragg, NC, Steve and I were both selected to attend. I was a young 22 year old but relatively experienced “Static-Line” jumper but with no Free-fall jump experience. I did not have much “fun” in HALO school especially after experiencing a very bad equipment failure jump at 16,000 ft. During the jump, I was knocked unconscious and injured. The jump was only my 10th HALO jump and it shook me up big time. Steve already had more than 500 Free-fall parachute jumps when we attended the course but unlike me, Steve had a great time in HALO school, which he laughed about daily calling it “skydiving on Government time”. Trust me, I did not share his jubilance and even after finding and correcting the cause of my equipment failure, my confidence in HALO wasn’t great. But, always the Mentor, Steve, after he quit laughing, and saying I looked like a helicopter blade spinning in the air, coached and encouraged me to complete the course, which I did. Some other really good men did not graduate from the course. They didn’t have Steve Mattoon in their corner, but I did!
PERSONAL WITNESS OF GREATNESS
Some of my happiest times in and out of uniform were spent with Steve. Steve invited me to attend my very first Ranger Rendezvous/Reunion being held near FT Benning, GA in the late 90’s. We had a blast and for many years after that first one, Steve and I attended the Ranger Reunions together. Again, I had a “Ringside” seat to one of America’s greatest Warriors while he graciously met and re-met Rangers from every generation. Rangers from Merrill’s Marauders of WWII fame to Viet Nam to Grenada, Panama, the 1st and 2nd Gulf Wars and Afghanistan and other undisclosed locations. Rangers either knew him or knew of Steve “Boom-Boom” Mattoon and they all wanted to express their gratitude for his extraordinary service and leadership both in training and in actual combat. Steve’s legacy will remain for generations
because of the hundreds of men whose lives that he impacted as a true living legend and for his lifetime of extraordinary warrior service to America.
As for me, I have been truly honored and very blessed knowing him as I have.
Rest easy my Ranger Brother, you truly earned it!!
Author: Sergeant Major (Retired) Lawrence “Larry” Jordan, US Army Special Forces
Larry is the Co-Founder and US Director of the ICCIA. Larry served in US Army for 24 years. Most of his service was with Army Special Operations units including; the 2d Ranger Battalion, 75th Infantry (Regiment) and for 17 years in the US Army Special Forces (Green Berets).
Steve authored several books during his civilian career, they include: “Surviving While You Survive”, “Strike Always from the Shadows”, SWAT Manual, “Breaching”
