Roy Matthews
Roy Willis Matthews (Dec. 9, 1926 – May 25, 1951) was a soldier from Scott County killed in action during the Korean War.
See Also: Scott Countians killed in war
Biography
Born Dec. 9, 1926, Roy W. Matthews was the son of William Thomas Matthews (1903-1991) and Eula Mae Craig (1908-1977). The family lived in the Ligias Fork community in Anderson County when Roy was born, later moved to Fentress County, and eventually to Scott County by 1940. The family lived on Grape Rough Road in Oneida before he enlisted in the service.
His siblings included William Caywood Matthews (1925-1992), Kenneth S. Matthews (1928-2012), Doris Matthews Sexton (1932-2012), Peggy Matthews Phillips (1939-1992), Marilyn Matthews, Jackie Matthews, Allen David Matthews (1945-2020) and Jerry Matthews. His brother, Allen, was a well-known figure at both Bethlehem Baptist Church and First Baptist Church in Oneida.
Korean War
PFC Matthews enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on Jan. 11, 1946 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. He was assigned to the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was killed on May 25, 1951. His remains were not recovered.
According to a citation for the Bronze Star Medal that was posthumously awarded to PFC Matthews, he “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 cover 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.“
Aftermath
PFC Matthews was awarded the 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.
He is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii, and on the National Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. He also has a cenotaph at Marcum-Kidd Cemetery in Oneida. He is listed on the VFW Post 5669 Memorial Wall in Oneida, the Scott County Veterans Memorial in Huntsville, and the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial in Knoxville.