Harrison A. Matthews

Preferred Name: Harry
Date of Birth: December 12, 1935
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK

Harrison Matthews was born in Oklahoma City, OK to Torrence and Dorothy Matthews. After attending Classen High School in Oklahoma City and the University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, he enlisted in the US Air Force in 1952. He attended Flight Training at Lackland, Graham and Greenville and in March of 1954 received his wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant. He was awarded as a Distinguished Graduate.

Matthew’s first operational assignment was with the 723rd Fighter Day Squadron at Foster AFB in Texas flying the F-86F and later the F-100C. It was there that he married Joyce Mary Bush in 1955 and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.  They would have 3 sons together.

After TDY’s in Morocco and Japan, Captain Harrison flew his first mission into Vietnam in March of 1965. It was during this conflict that he won his first Distinguished Flying Cross as Commander on the attack against Diem Bien Phu.

In 1967 he was promoted to Major while serving as an Instructor Pilot at McConnell AFB, in Kansas. In 1968 Major Matthews became part of the “Wild Weasels” sitting “alert” at Osan Air Base in Korea. He became Commander of the Squadron that same year while stationed at Korat Air Base in Thailand, and flew the F105F.

October of 1968 found Matthews back in the US at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Texas where he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. In November of 1972 Lt. Colonel Matthews was back in Thailand as the Commander of the 17th Wild Weasel Squadron. In 1975 he was promoted to Colonel while serving as Director Plans & Evaluation, Tactical Air Warfare Center (TAWC), Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Matthews also served with the 831st Air Division as Special Assistant for ANG Affairs and Inspector General (George AFB, CA) from 1979-1982.

Colonel Harrison Matthews retired from the US Air Force in December of 1982.

He then began to work in the construction industry and joined the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. Harry and Joyce bought a home in Hill Country near Mountain Home, TX and formed the H & H Repair Corporation (where he was CEO, CFO, etc of the Sales & Service of Outdoor Power Equipment). He became the Exalted Ruler of the Kerrville Elks Lodge # 2081 and joined The Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW). Eventually, the Matthew’s sold the business and moved to Fredericksburg, TX.

Joyce Matthews passed away August 13, 2001, from cancer after 46 and a half years of our marriage. In 2008 Harrison married Anne Mary Smith.

Harrison Matthews served as Seven-time Commander of the Hill Country Chapter of MOWW; Commander, Department of Texas MOWW; Commander, Region VIII MOWW and was elected General Staff Officer for the National Headquarters of MOWW.  He also formed and was President of the Super Senior Golf Association, is a Wild Weasel Society Member; Life Member of Order of Daedaliens; Life Member of Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association (River Rats); Life member F-86 Sabre Pilots Association; Charter Member of Super Sabre Society,  and, of course, member of Aviation Cadet Class 54-E “Awesome Aviators