Benjamin Franklin Matthews - Veterans Legacy Project

Their Story

Benjamin Franklin Matthews

Benjamin Franklin Matthews was born on March 15, 1921, in Chattanooga, Tennessee,^[1] to Eula Katherine Shirley Matthews and Benjamin Franklin Matthews, Sr.^[2] Ben later moved to Youngstown, Ohio, where he graduated from Rayen High School. After graduation, Ben went to Columbus, Ohio, where he obtained a degree in economics from Ohio State University. In 1940, Ben and his mother were living with her parents, and he had finished one year of college.^[3] While at Ohio State, he was a part of the Chi Phi fraternity.

While he was still a student at Ohio State, he registered for the draft in February of 1942.^[4] After graduating college, Ben joined the United States Army, serving with the 502nd Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in Europe in World War II.^[5] The 502nd was a busy unit during World War II. After training at Fort Benning and Fort Bragg, the 502nd endured months of grueling training. In September of 1943, the 502nd left for England aboard the SS Strathnaver. In June of 1944, the 502nd was tasked with securing two northern pathways leading inland from Utah Beach and destroying 122 mm German Howitzers.

An interesting fact about the 502nd parachute regiment is that a soldier named Frank Lillyman was the first paratrooper to step foot behind German lines. The 502nd and 101st kept moving along France, fighting fierce battles, such as the Battle of Carentan. In December of 1944, General Patton ordered the 101st to defend the Austrian city of Bastogne from a German counter-attack, and the 502nd was to hold positions on the north and northwestern part of the town. This battle, nicknamed the Battle of the Bulge, found the 101st completely surrounded by the Germans until Patton arrived with his 4th Armored Division. The 101st was inactivated on November 30, 1945, almost seven months after the war in Europe ended.

Ben married Gloria Trevillian Holland on October 9, 1948, in Norfolk, Virginia. He was a salesman for Hayes Office Equipment.^[6] She was a graduate of the Norfolk General Hospital School of Nursing.^[7] In 1950, they were residing in Austintown, Ohio, and had one son, William.^[8] Ben was a field representative in the wholesale storm window industry.

Ben then served in the Seventh Cavalry Regiment of the First Cavalry Division in Korea. The 7th Cavalry kept pushing North Korea out of South Korea and eventually all the way near the Chinese border. However, in November of 1950, China pledged to help North Korea and together they attacked the 7th Cavalry continuously. They clashed numerous times until the last major battle for the 7th Cavalry, the Battle for Line Jamestown. On December 18, 1951, the 7th Cavalry left for Hokkaido, Japan, after 549 days of continuous fighting in Korea. During his military service, Benjamin received a Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters.^[9] He also received the Bronze Star, the United Nation Service Medal, and the Korean Service Medal.

After his service, he was a co-owner of Matthews Office Equipment in Davenport, Iowa, with his mother, Katherine, and Mrs. Will Hoge.^[10] The company was renamed in April 1952 to Matthews Office Equipment from Byers Office Equipment. It was anticipated at that time that Lt. Matthews would receive an early discharge from the Army so he could take a more active role in the business. Mrs. Hoge died in 1967.

In December 1952, he married Jacqueline D. Tatman in Rock Island, Illinois.^[11] She was employed by WHBF-AM-FM-TV as women’s director. She was known to her audience as Pat Scott. Ben operated his office equipment business until his retirement in 1995. He then moved to DeLand, Florida.

During his free time, Ben loved to golf and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, and Kiwanis Club. In 1955, he ran as a republican for the second ward alderman slot in Davenport.^[12] In 1956, he was chosen as president of the Davenport Junior Chamber of Commerce.^[13] In 1957, he was president of the Jaycees.^[14] He was elected president of the Davenport Kiwanis Club in September 1966.^[15]

On August 20, 2012, Ben passed away with his family by his side at Halifax Hospice Center in Orange City, Florida. He was 91. Ben is buried at Rock Island National Cemetery in plot 1-254.

He had two daughters and two sons, one of which preceded him in death.