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William Clay Matthews, April 9, 1950 - February 26, 1969
William Clay Matthews
Private First Class
PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Derby, Kansas
Date of birth: Sunday, 0409/1950
MILITARY DATA
Service: Marine Corps (Regular)
Grade at loss: E2
Rank: Private First Class
ID No: 2480404
MOS: 0311 Rifleman
LenSvc: Less than one year
Unit: L CO, 3RD BN, 4TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: Satuaday, 02/01/1969
Cas Date: Wednesday, 02/26/1969
Age at loss: 18
Remains: Body recovered
Location: Quang Tri, South Vietnam
Type: Hostile, died outright
Reason: Other explosive device- Ground casualty
ON THE WALL Panel 31W Line 070
In memory of my old buddy, Bill Matthews I would like to share some of my thoughts about him. We were high school classmates, and enlisted in the Marines together. We made new friends through out our training, but we always visited nightly to discuss family and friends back home. It was during that time I truly realized just how much he loved his family, and friends back home. I feel truly fortunate to have known and served with such an honorable person. He is but one name out of the 58,000 plus listed on the Viet Nam Memorial Wall that made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. I will always treasure the good times, and will never forget the sacrifice he made. Bill, you’re always in my thoughts, and I’ll see your smiling face again one day, Semper Fi,
MY BROTHER Posted on 1/11/99 - by ROB MATTHEWS SUPERSTAR@SKTC.NET WILLIAM ( BILL) MATTHEWS WAS MY BROTHER. HE JOIN THE SERVICE BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR HIS COUNTY.HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US. I SURE HOPE THAT WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 30 YEARS LATER STILL APPRECIATE WHAT HE AND ALL THE OTHER DID FOR US.BILL WAS A GREAT BROTHER, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SURE I KNEW THAT UNTIL HE WAS GONE. I WAS ONLY 14 WHEN HE WAS KILLED. I JUST WISH THAT I COULD TELL HIM NOW JUST HOW GREAT HE WAS. I GUESS HE KNOW'S
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Steve Billingsley
I learned of Bill's passing when I was on leave prior to my leaving for Nha Trang, Viet Nam in 1970. It was a difficult time for many of us as we never thought this war could be so close to Derby, Ks. Nothing seemed to make sense at the time. I remember going fishing with Bill, he really loved to fish. He was a very good friend and a wonderful person. His passing was difficult for me as he was the first in our class to go, and here I was going to a place that I had no idea what was going on. For those of us who served in country during those times, from a little town in Kansas,.......his passing was huge. What a wonderful, caring person he was. I will always remember him and his sacrifice for his family, friends and country. Peace Bill. We miss you.
Dennis Malone
I think about Billy all the Time!
Since it was me that encoraged Billy and Franchot Duncan to go into the Marines.
Although...I tried to convince them to go "Aviation" like myself, but, they said that they did not want to go in for the Four Year Requirement for Aviation.
Thank God that Franchot came Home with only some wounds...He still lead a Good life and had a great family.
Billy is Missed Very Much by myself...Franchot...Bruce Willey and Many other People that Knew Billy!
Billy was a Great Hero...and He Is A Shinning Light of The type of People Derby had...
Loyal...Patriotic...Friendly...Funny...A Good Heart!!!!
The World Was Diminished When We Lost Billy!!!!