Colonel Mathews first joined the U.S. Marine Corps in December of 1916. He was assigned to the 6th Machine Gun Battalion of the Second Division and saw combat in World War I. He was honorable discharged from the Marine Corps in August of 1923. He later joined the United States Army in December of 1935 and served through World War II and was released from active duty in May of 1947 as a Colonel. During his World War II service he was awarded the Bronze Star medal for meritorious service. His citation reads: Lieutenant Colonel Eugene F. Mathews, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, for meritorious service in connection with military operations, as Commanding Officer, 796th Engineer Forestry Battalion, Advance Section, Communications Zone, European Theater of Operations, from 25 January 1945 to 28 February 1945. Lieutenant Colonel Mathews succeeded with his men in producing 2,000,000 board feet of bridge timber urgently required for military operations by a specified target date. As a result of Lieutenant Colonel Mathews' constant supervision and driving determination, his command felled, transported and sawed this tremendous quantity of lumber within record time. Entered military service from Oregon. Adjutant General's Office, General Order 70, dated 5 May 1945. While assinged to the Marine Corps he was awarded the World War I Victory medal with Aisne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Defensive Sector Campaign Service clasps, the USMC Good Conduct medal with one reenlistment bar and the Expert Rifleman's badge. While with the U.S. Army he was awarded the aforementioned Bronze Star, EAME Theater Campaign medal with four bronze service stars, the American Theater Campaign medal, the Meritorious Service Unit, the Army Commendation Ribbon, the World War II Victory medal, the Army of Occupation medal with Germany bar, the Army of Occupation medal with Japan bar, the Army Expert Rifleman's badge and the Army Expert Pistol badge.