John Hubert "Hugh" Mathews was born on July 31, 1907 in Cass, Pocahontas County, West Virginia. He was the son of Jasper Slaymaker Mathews and Lucy Ann Gillispie Mathews. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Lieutenant Colonel in the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. An advance party from the 16th Infantry's headquarters led by Lt Col John Matthews, the regiment's second-in-command, approached the Colleville draw in an LCM around 7:25AM. The team's job was to set up a command post and organize the 16th Infantry's beachhead. As the LCM scraped bottom and its crew prepared to drop the ramp, Matthews shouted, "this is it; good luck!" Morning Report for June 6, 1944, the Advance CP group in the LCM moved toward the beach in a rough sea, and upon nearing the beach encountered a considerable volume of artillery and machine gun fire. The tide was at low ebb, and to reach the beach it was necessary to traverse a wide stretch of water, making way through various lines of beach obstacles fitted with mines. As the men hit the water approximately waist-deep, machine gun fire swept the section, and a bullet tearing through Master Sergeant Carpino's gas mask struck Lt Col Matthews in the head. Not knowing he was dead, Sgt Carpino, with much difficulty, got his body to shore only to learn that he had been killed instantly. No actual CP functioning was possible. The only interest on the crowed beach was to disperse the men and obtain as much cover as possible. He is now buried in Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France. He also has a cenotaph located in Arbovale Cemetery, Arbovale, Pocahontas County, West Virginia, USA.
Source of information: www.findagrave.com