Major General Matz Jr

Retired Army Major General William M. "Bill" Matz, Jr., former Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission, passed away peacefully on February 23, 2026, surrounded by his beloved family.

Born in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, to Isabella White Matz and William McDowell Matz, Sr., Bill's life was defined by perseverance, fortitude, and unwavering service to his country and his family. As a young boy stricken with polio, he faced the daunting challenge of childhood paralysis. Through sheer grit, determination, and an unshakable love of the military, Bill overcame those early physical limitations-going on to embrace the demanding life of an infantry officer and becoming an Airborne Ranger in the United States Army. Throughout his combat career, he wore a specially fitted combat boot and orthotic device on his atrophied "polio leg," a quiet testament to the strength that defined him.

A man of remarkable intellect, Bill possessed an extraordinary memory and lifelong love of learning. He could recite the name of nearly every classmate and teacher from first grade onward-an ability that never ceased to amaze those around him. That remarkable memory allowed him to recall moments from decades past with vivid clarity, often delighting friends as he reminisced.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Gettysburg College and later completed his Master's degree at the University of San Diego, academic achievements that reflected both his discipline and his intellectual curiosity.

A highly decorated combat veteran, Bill's distinguished military career spanned five decades. As an infantryman, he served in Korea along the DMZ and later in Panama. During the Vietnam War, he commanded a rifle company with the 9th Infantry Division and was wounded in action during the 1968 Tet Offensive. For extraordinary heroism in combat, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second-highest award for valor. He also served with the 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions, earned his Ranger Tab and Master Parachutist Badge, and completed a second Vietnam tour with Navy/Marine Corps amphibious forces. In 1989, he deployed with the 7th Infantry Division during Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama.

In addition, his many military decorations were the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge-each reflecting a career marked by valor and steadfast leadership. Bill also served as Executive Secretary to Secretaries of Defense Caspar Weinberger and Frank Carlucci during the Reagan administration, contributing at the highest levels of national defense.

Upon retiring from the Army as a Major General in 1995 after 33 years of active-duty service, Bill continued to serve in new ways. He worked in the defense industry with Raytheon Company in Brazil and Washington, DC, and later led Vinnell/Northrop Grumman's Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In 2005, President George W. Bush appointed Bill to the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission, where he served until 2008. A steadfast advocate for service members, veterans, and their families, he was also past President of the National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS), helping advance meaningful reforms for those who had worn the uniform.

In January 2018, President Donald Trump appointed Bill Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission. Serving from 2018 to 2021, he led U.S. commemorative efforts in Europe marking the centennial of the end of World War I and the 75th anniversaries of D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. He guided the agency through the challenges of a global pandemic while preserving its sacred mission of honoring America's fallen. Bill often described this role as becoming a guardian of America's war dead-one of the highest honors of his lifetime of service.

Though he officially retired five different times, Bill never truly stopped working. His work was his passion, and service was simply who he was. A natural leader and consummate people person, he was a magnet to others-known for his warmth, mentorship, and unmistakable sense of humor. His friends often joked that he was "Forest Gump," as he seemed to appear at so many defining moments of modern history-never seeking the spotlight, but always present, always serving. Bill was happiest surrounded by his grandchildren, sharing his love of history and encouraging them to live with courage and integrity.

Bill presently served on the boards of the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association, the Eisenhower Institute, and the World War II American Experience Museum, continuing his lifelong commitment to those who serve and to preserving our nation's military history.

Bill is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years and the love of his life, Linda Heal Matz; his son, William Matz III and his wife Helen Matz; his daughters, Heather Matz Jorris and her husband Peter Jorris, and Rebecca Matz Wall and her fiancé Peter Cashion; his seven grandsons: William, Benjamin and his wife Alyssa, Joshua, Max, Luke, Alexander, and Ian; and his sister, Rebecca Pearce.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Home of the Merciful Savior, where Bill was treated for polio at the age of five (https://hmsschool.org/donate/).

Major General William M. "Bill" Matz, Jr. will be remembered as a courageous soldier, principled leader, devoted family man, and tireless advocate for veterans. His legacy of resilience and service will endure in the lives he touched and in the freedoms he helped defend.

Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be announced at a later date.