ST. GEORGE — Serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War made Diana Matozevich “grow up” and appreciate her freedom.
Matozevich, 78, lives in St. George with her second husband, Joe Matozevich, who also served in the military.
“The Army made me grow up,” she told St. George News. “I’ve seen and done things that have given me a different outlook on life and how things are handled or should be handled. I am proud to have served in the Women’s Army Corps during the Vietnam (War)-era. I was spoiled when I entered and grew up when I got out.”
Although the United States has been in other wars since Vietnam, she said it hasn’t seen a fight of that magnitude, and she hopes there won’t ever be another Vietnam.
“These young fellows were just out of high school and didn’t know anything about life,” she said. “More than 58,000 boys did not make it back home. I hope we don’t get into another war because I’ve seen the results of that one.”
During the war, Matozevich served stateside and worked with the soldiers who were sent back to the U.S. Military hospitals in critical condition, with many soldiers having suffered the loss of limbs.
“I didn’t go to Vietnam, but I had the ‘vegetable ward’ that I had to work with,” she said. “I had to get bed space for these soldiers at the VA hospital near their hometown. So they can at least see their families one more time before they were likely going to pass away.”
Matozevich said it bothers her to see people who don’t stand with their hands over their hearts when they see the American flag presented.
“I salute our flag. It shows that you do like your country and appreciate it,” Matozevich said. “And it bothers me when I see vehicles going around with the American flag tied on them. I learned in the Army how the different flags … are supposed to be displayed.”
The American flag should not be carried on a vehicle as it can get dirty, drag on the ground or be left out in the bad weather, which is disrespectful, she said.
Born in 1945 in Alburgh, VT, as the youngest of four children, Matozevich’s siblings were older than her by 15, 14 and 11 years. When she was a child, her family would work in the fields, and her mother would take lunch for them to eat under a tree.
“My parents were farmers and hard workers,” Matozevich said. “They made sure we were clean, fed and went to school.”
Matozevich attended elementary in a one-room school. Then in high school, she became a member of the 4-H Club and co-captain of the basketball team. She also participated in softball, cheerleading, Glee Club and The Grange.
A recruiting Army sergeant visited her high school and three of her fellow students were interested in joining. But Matozevich said she was the only one who passed the physical and mental tests.
“I was the only girl from my hometown going into the military during a war conflict,” Matozevich said. “It was an honor to represent my town, state and my country at that particular time.”
She was stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama, for clerical training. After graduating, Matozevich went to Fort Lee, Virginia. In 1964, she joined a skydiving club but had to get her parent’s permission in writing to be allowed to jump.
After basic training, she put in to be transferred to Germany, and she was stationed in Frankfurt at the 97th General Hospital. Matozevich served as an Army secretary and coordinated with the Air Force flight nurses to send the soldiers back to America. She also worked with the surgeon general’s office in Washington, DC.
Once, she said, actor Roy Rodger’s son had been promoted and went out celebrating with his friends. Unfortunately, when they brought him back to the barracks, they laid him on his back instead of his side, and he choked on his vomit. He had to be shipped home in a body bag.
While in Europe, Matozevich traveled on her days off.
“I learned that there were tunnels underneath the hospital that Hitler had done so his troops could travel anywhere, and he did that a lot to many of the buildings,” Matozevich said. “I went down in one just to see what it was. It was dark — creepy.”
She also recalled visiting Checkpoint Charlie. And it was there that she realized how much Americans take things like indoor heating for granted.
“There are water pipes around the outside of the building; this is two weeks before Christmas, so you know it’s cold,” Matozevich said.
Checkpoint Charlie was the crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War (1947–1991). In 1961, the East Germans constructed the Berlin Wall separating East and West Berlin. After the Eastern Bloc’s fall and Germany’s reunification, the American guard house at Checkpoint Charlie became a tourist attraction.
In Germany, she often went walking on Sundays by herself and enjoyed church bells ringing and cobblestone streets. She also visited France, Switzerland and England.
After her military career, she worked in the hospital where she was born. Later she moved to Wyoming, where she was married and had a daughter with her first husband. She worked at the U.S. Post Office, in medical records in a hospital, and later for the Department of the Interior. Later in life she became a speed-walker and won awards.
Matozevich has many familial ties to others who served in the military. She had two uncles who were serving in Pearl Harbor when it was attacked and survived. Her brother served in the Air Force Military Police during the Korean War. He was stationed in the Azores in Saudi Arabia. And Matozevich’s brother-in-law served in Guam during World War II.
Her current husband served in the Army in Vietnam for a year at the 518th Personnel Headquarters. He was able to leave to go back to college. He also worked for the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Postal Service. She has a daughter, Sarah, age 50, who lives in Georgia.
“I’m proud of what I have accomplished, coming from a poor family but very hard workers,” Matozevich said.
Matozevich was recently honored at a tribute ceremony at the Washington County Fair to celebrate Women in the Military. The event was hosted by Washington County Fair Director Susi Lafaele, with support from the Veterans Coalition of Southern Utah and the Color Country Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.
All veterans in attendance who served between 1955-1975 received their 50th Anniversary Vietnam War commemorative lapel pin. In the United States, 10% of all veterans alive today are women, which is nearly 2 million strong.
Photo Gallery
Diana Matozevich served in the Women's Army Corps during the Vietnam Era, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo Photo courtesy of Diana Matozevich, St. George News
Diana Matozevich received her 50th Anniversary Vietnam War commemorative lapel pin at a tribute ceremony at the Washington County Fair Grounds to celebrate Women in the Military this year, Hurricane, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Valerie King, St. George News
Diana Matozevich served in the army as a secretary during the Vietnam War and lives in St. George with her husband Joe, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
Diana Matozevich served in the Women's Army Corps during the Vietnam Era, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Diana Matozevich, St. George News
Diana Matozevich served in the Women's Army Corps during the Vietnam Era, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Diana Matozevich, St. George News
Diana Matozevich and her family lived in Vermont. She served in the Women's Army Corps during the Vietnam Era, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Diana Matozevich, St. George News
Diana and Joe Matozevich in front of their home. They both served in the Vietnam Era. She served in the Women's Army Corps, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
Diana Matozevich served in the Women's Army Corps during the Vietnam Era, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Diana Matozevich, St. George News
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