VIETNAM - MATUSKA, JOHN JAMES

Matuska, John James

VIETNAM - MATUSKA, JOHN JAMES
MATUSKA, JOHN JAMES

Rank: Specialist 4

Unit: Headquarters & Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 67A – Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice

Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device

Note: UH-1C, Tail # 66-00523, Door Gunner

Enlisted by: Regular

Date of birth: 13-Dec-1948

Hometown: Garfield Heights, Ohio

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 19-Nov-1966

Start of tour: 24-Jan-1968

Incident date: 29-Sep-1968

Date of casualty: 29-Sep-1968

Age at death: 19

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Helicopter Crash — Crew (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
John James Matuska died from wound received while door gunner on military aircraft on reconnaissance mission when radio contact was lost with aircraft. Aircraft received hostile ground fire, crashed but did not burn.

Four Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
WO Jerry Lee Harris
SP4 John James Matuska
WO William Paul Rollins
SP5 Blaine Joseph Shepherd

Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam, YS 442 910

Place of interment: Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 42W 042 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)