Professor Michael Birkner and Major General William M. Matz Jr. ’61 during the event. (Brandon Fey/The Gettysburgian)
By Brandon Fey, News Editor
The Eisenhower Institute hosted Major General William M. Matz Jr. ’61, U.S. Army (Ret.), for a book talk on his new memoir, “My Toughest Battle: A Soldier’s Lifelong Struggle with Polio,” on Tuesday, April 15, in the Bowen Auditorium.
The discussion was moderated by history professor Michael Birkner, who conducted the discussion in a Q&A format. He introduced Matz’s book as a personal account of his battle with polio.
Birkner’s first question was about Matz’s diagnosis at a young age, which the latter confirmed was when he was five and a half years old, growing up in Landsdale, Pennsylvania, adjacent to West Philadelphia.
Matz said that he remembers it occurred when his father was preparing to leave for the Pacific during the Second World War. He distinctly remembers falling on the floor and being unable to stand up again as his legs were paralyzed. A spinal tap confirmed his diagnosis as polio, a debilitating virus of the nervous system that would become a national epidemic in the 1950s.
Matz was treated at the Home of the Merciful Savior Hospital in Philadelphia, which was exclusively treating children in the Philadelphia area with polio. It was there that he was informed that he would never walk again without a crutch. He would return regularly for treatments.
During high school, Matz was one of the children selected to receive the new, experimental “Sister Kenny treatment,” invented by an Australian nurse for whom it is named. Unlike conventional treatments, in which the affected legs were braced to prevent any movement, this approach instead emphasized movement while applying hot packs to develop anterior horn cells. This method greatly succeeded in helping Matz regain strength and mobility over time.
Birkner’s next question was about Matz’s difficulties growing up with a normal life despite his impairment.
Matz explained that polio left him with a conspicuous limp as a child, for which he was bullied by other children. He remembers feeling ashamed of his condition and trying to hide it, which was difficult as his one leg was shorter than the other. This made it difficult to live a normal life as he was unable to ride a two-wheeled bicycle until he was in 8th grade, among other things.
After the Second World War, Matz’s father was able to purchase a new house on the GI bill. While moving into the new residence, Matz distinctly remembers his father commanding him to put away his crutches and commit to walking without them despite the doctor’s orders. Matz considered this to be a focal point of his young life, as it imparted to him a “perseverance mindset” with which he was determined not to let his condition prevent him from living a normal life.
As he grew older, Matz gained strength in his leg and was able to play football at Landsdale High School. He spoke about the mentorship he received from his coaches, who ordered him a special cleat for his affected leg. Playing football, he said, greatly improved his confidence.
“You get stronger when you have to overcome and compensate for obstacles. You have to just get up and persevere through life,” he said.
Upon graduation from high school, Matz applied to Pennsylvania State University and Gettysburg College. After retaking his entrance exam, he received a late acceptance to Gettysburg College in July. Matz’s father was pleased about his enrollment, as he had played football at Gettysburg before his studies were cut short due to the Great Depression.
Matz described his time at Gettysburg College as a “wonderful experience.” He played lacrosse for the College and joined the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity (FIJI), which he said played a large role in his life, and made a point of referencing brothers from his class who were in the audience.
Another significant part of his time at Gettysburg was his participation in Army ROTC. He was initially disqualified on account of his polio, but was able to convince a Walter Reed examiner to allow him to join. He became head of the Cadet Corps during his senior year.
The military was a significant theme during Matz’s college experience, as he recalled that all of his male professors were veterans of either the Second World War or Korea. This included College president Williard Paul, who had had a distinguished career as a lieutenant general in the U.S. Army. Matz said that the faculty served as mentors to him and his classmates.
Birker’s next question was about Matz’s military service and tendency to take the “tough road in life.”
Matz said that he was always trying to prove himself. After receiving his officer commission upon graduation, he volunteered for the airborne and eventually signed up for Ranger School, which he describes as the most difficult thing he had ever done in his life.
When asked about his time in the Vietnam War, Matz mentioned that he never feared for his safety as an infantry commander despite the high number of officer casualties. He explained that he commanded men of the 42nd Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta during the Tet Offensive of 1967 to 1968. Matz was personally responsible for 160 men, about whom he was so concerned that he could not focus on himself.
“The toughest thing I had in Vietnam was losing a soldier. You’re responsible when you lose a soldier, and you have to write a letter to the mother,” he said.
Birkner also asked Matz about his strict emphasis on the importance of training as a commander, to which he replied that he ensured that his men were in peak physical condition for their own fitness in combat. He insisted on joining his company on daily runs, during which he had to push himself to not fall behind on account of his polio leg.
Matz continued his career at the Pentagon, working under Secretaries of Defense Casper Weinberger and Frank Carlucci, whom he both described as personal mentors. He continued this work up into the first Trump administration.
Per his final question, Matz described his book as an intended legacy for his seven grandchildren. He defended his mention of strong personal opinions in his writing, stating that he wanted to give a full picture of his military experience.
Matz concluded his discussion by encouraging the Gettysburg ROTC members in the audience to consider ranger training and speaking on the importance of the army, stating, “Battles and wars are won by the men on the ground.”
