George Edward Matuscsak was born in Kearny, New Jersey on April 23, 1946, to Joseph and Vincenta Matuscsak. He had an older brother, Joseph, and a younger sister, Paula. George attended Kearny High School where he played football freshman year. Before enlisting with the Army, George worked as an apprentice machinist for a small company in Kearny. He attended Kearny High School until February 7, 1964.
George enlisted in the Army in September 1965. He completed his basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey; Advanced Individual (Weapons) Training at Fort Ord, California; and Basic Airborne (Parachute) Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Private First Class (PFC) Matuscsak was assigned to “A” Company,1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry within the 1st Cavalry Division. His military education also included Light Weapons Infantryman training. PFC Matuscsak departed for Vietnam on February 24, 1966, and arrived there in March 1966.
PFC Matuscsak’s last letter to his parents per the Newark Evening News(August 13, 1966) stated that he had come face-to-face with death so many times, “it scares the hell out of me.” The letter also stated, “I’m doing alright and I hope to keep doing alright. Sometime in February I should be leaving.” PFC Matuscsak would have completed his one-year combat tour to Vietnam in February 1967.
PFC Matuscsak was killed during Operation Paul Revere II on August 8, 1966,in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The mission of that operation was to interdict infiltration and supply routes in the Pleiku and Kontum Provinces in the region.
(From the Virtual Wall Vietnam Veterans Memorial – Operation Paul Revere II) “From 2 to 7 August, efforts centered on finding the enemy. The division knew he was in the area, but most of the sightings and contacts were of individuals and small groups. On August 8th however, A Company, 1st Battalion 7thCavalry Regiment (A/1/7 Cav) came under heavy fire at Landing Zone (LZ ) Juliet and withstood mass assaults by a reinforced battalion for several hours. An attempt to encircle the company was beaten back by heavy artillery and
Tactical (TAC) Air Support. The company was reinforced by two companies of the 1/12 Cav which were diverted, in a classic example of flexibility, while in the air to conduct another assault several miles away. When the helicopters with the reinforcements appeared on the LZ, the enemy broke contact leaving106 of their dead. He was pursued until contact was lost after dark.”
The US Army paid a high price in casualties for that engagement with 25 dead and 36 more wounded. The dead from A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry included PFC Matuscsak, who was killed by small arms fire. PFC Matuscsak was just 20 years old.
PFC Matuscsak received a posthumous Bronze Star medal (with “V” Device)for his gallant actions. Per Kearny town records on his citation, “With his(Matuscsak’s) platoon pinned down by heavy enemy machine gun fire and hand grenades, he and two other soldiers maneuvered to destroy the obstacle. He was shot and mortally wounded, but because of his valiant deed, the remainder of the platoon was able to withdraw.”
A letter to his parents from Captain Donald L. McShane of his company stated, “George had the admiration and respect of all the officers and men of this unit.”
As his father told the Newark Evening News upon the notification of his death, “He was a good kid. He had a real sense of humor. Even the war over there couldn’t take it away from him.”
The funeral mass for PFC Matuscsak was conducted at Our Lady of Sorrows church in Kearny and he was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ (Block 38/Section C/Tier D/Grave 46).
PFC Matuscsak’s decorations and awards include the following: Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device; Purple Heart Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge; Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar; Parachute Badge; National Defense Service Medal; Military Merit Medal with Gallantry Cross with Palm.
In addition to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial, PFC Matuscsak is also honored at the Kearny Vietnam Memorial in Kearny’s Memorial Park.
Source: NJVVMF and Ron Woods.
3/30/2025
