Private Mathena was a member of the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 13 April 1952 and died of those wounds on 15 April 1952.

Mathena 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.