Henry Elmo Matthews

Private First Class Henry Elmo Matthews was killed in action September 16, 1944 near Geney, France during World War II.  He was 19 years old.

Henry Elmo Matthews was born on October 28, 1924 in Vance County, North Carolina, the son of John H. Matthews and Pearlie Laura West Matthews.  He attended Zeb Vance and Dabney schools. He was employed at Camp Butner and at the Portsmouth Navy Yard prior to induction into the U.S. Army.

PFC Matthews was deployed to North Africa in November, 1943 serving with the 179th Infantry, 45th Division.  The 179th fought in the campaigns in Sicily and Italy (July 10, 1943 – August 14, 1944).  On August 15, 1944, the 45th Division, as part of the U.S. Seventh Army, landed in southern France and began advancing north and east against retreating Nazis forces while the Fifth Army was breaking out of the hedgerows of Normandy to drive east.  By midnight August 24, 1944, the Seventh Army had liberated approximately 15,000 square miles of southern France.

Using the Swiss border to protect their flank against encirclement, the German columns headed for the Belfort Gap maintaining an east-west defense line along the Doubs River.   The advance of the Seventh Army slowed in the hills and on ground soaked by autumn rains, too muddy for tank maneuvers against an enemy dug into excellent defensive positions.  Reaching the south bank of the Doubs on September 6, the 179th began bridging the river hindered by German artillery and the scarcity of small boats.  Mortar shells began bursting at the rate of one every 45 seconds. Flak wagons and field artillery were moved into position supporting the Regiment’s amphibious operation by firing an intense concentration across the Doubs.  By dusk the Regiment was crossing in strength, developing and consolidating the bridgehead.

The 179th seized Clerval, moving further north, and on September 9, the Germans counter-attacked at Soye.  All afternoon the opposing riflemen battled in a vicious house-to-house slaughter. American artillery converged on the enemy armor, which pulled out. And the 1st Battalion’s infantry smashed through town. At 1510 the village was secured with one company while another held the high ground overlooking Soye.

On September 10, the Regiment captured Mancenans but the advance into Appenans bogged down in the face of fierce machine gun fire.  Charging into town, the troops were unable to dislodge the Germans from the buildings or give up. Tanks moved in to fire point blank at the houses. Even then, those Germans who weren't blown to bits had to be wiped out by infantrymen rushing into cellars, hurling grenades and pouring out a spraying fire with tommy guns and rifles.

After securing the village, the 1st Battalion pushed on until it ran into heavy fire from enemy entrenchments outside Geney.  On September 16, the 1st Battalion attacked Geney. Held up by a dripping fog and because supporting tanks weren't in position on time, the jump off was delayed. Then, in half an hour, Company B was fighting on the edge of town. "A" moved abreast of "B" and joined in the fray. The enemy brought up tanks. The lst Battalion called up its Tank Destroyers. As dusk fell, the 1st and 3rd   Battalions formed lines on the outskirts of Geney and reorganized for the next day's battle.  PFC Matthews was killed in action on September 16, 1944 in the initial attack on Geney.

Private First Class Henry Elmo Matthews is buried in the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, France. 

Last edited: 31 May 2026