Private Matzen was a member of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in Korea on 8 June 1953 and died of those wounds on 11 June 1953.

Matzen was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.