Roy Willis Matthews was born on 9 December 1926
Killed in Action
Private First Class Matthews was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on May 25, 1951. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel, July 26, 1951
A Scott County soldier gave his life to save his squad from a trap of Reds in Korea. The Bronze Star Medal with “V” for heroic achievement in May has been posthumously awarded Pfc. Roy W. Matthews. Pfc. Matthews was the son of Mrs. Eula Matthews.
The citation says: “Pfc. Matthew volunteered to act as scout for his squad. While moving along a ridge line in front of the advance, he spotted enemy positions endangering his squad. Instantly, without taking over and with complete disregard for his own safety, Pfc. Matthews shouted a warning to his comrades. Saving his squad from entering a trap, he gave his position away to the enemy and fell mortally wounded by the hail of bullets which the enemy directed at him.”
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of birth: 9 December 1926
- Date of death: 25 May 1951
- County: Scott
- Hometown: Oneida
- Service Branch: Army
- Division/Assignment: 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
- Conflict: Korean War
- Awards: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantrymans Badge, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and Republic of Korea War Service Medal
- Burial/Memorial Location: Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XXI, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Roy W. Matthews
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