WWII sailor from Allentown landed troops on Pacific islands

Breaking News Lehigh Valley and PA election results: November 2024November 6, 2024 at 2:33 am April Gamiz/The Morning Call

Matt Gutman of Allentown poses in his Navy uniform Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, in Allentown. Mathias F. Gutman, a son of Yugoslavian immigrants, left Allentown High School in 1943 to join the Navy. Gutman was assigned to a landing ship tank as coxswain on one of its two Higgins boats. He took troops ashore on six invasions of Japanese-held islands in World War II. April Gamiz/The Morning Call

World War II veteran Matt Gutman. (Contributed photo)

Veteran Matt Gutman, 99, talks about his display of a samurai sword he took from a Japanese soldier who surrendered during World War II, during a commemoration of the 79th anniversary of V-E Day on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Macungie. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)

CHRIS SHIPLEY / THE MORNING CALL

(L to R) Major Nathan Kline, USAF, Ret., Matt Gutman, Chief Petty Officer U.S. Navy Ret., Bert Winzer, Private First Class U.S. Army Ret., and Calvin Summers, Private First Class U.S. Army, Ret. on Saturday during a celebration of The Spirit of '45 a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII at West Park in Allentown. CHRIS SHIPLEY / THE MORNING CALL

April Gamiz/The Morning Call

Matt Gutman of Allentown poses in his Navy uniform Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, in Allentown. Mathias F. Gutman, a son of Yugoslavian immigrants, left Allentown High School in 1943 to join the Navy. Gutman was assigned to a landing ship tank as coxswain on one of its two Higgins boats. He took troops ashore on six invasions of Japanese-held islands in World War II. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

CHRIS SHIPLEY / THE MORNING CALL

(L to R) Major Nathan Kline, USAF, Ret., Matt Gutman, Chief Petty Officer U.S. Navy Ret., Bert Winzer, Private First Class U.S. Army Ret., and Calvin Summers, Private First Class U.S. Army, Ret. on Saturday during a celebration of The Spirit of '45 a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII at West Park in Allentown. /////////Photo taken on August 15, 2015.