Technical Sergeant Matthews was a member of the 136th Maintenance Squadron, 136th Maintenance and Supply Group, on temporary duty from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. On 23 July 1951, he was working on an aircraft when the seat ejection mechanism accidentally discharged killing him instantly.

Matthews was awarded 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.