Fleming Mathews, Jr.

Captain Fleming W. Mathews, Jr. was born in Detroit, MI, on July 27, 1923, to his parents Fleming W. Mathews, Sr. of Semora, NC, and Lillian E. Wheeler of Boston, MA. He was married to Alfreda M. Simonelli in Pisa, Italy (Alfreda passed in 2004). They had two children Fleming W. Mathews, III, (Carole) and Peter C. Mathews (Nancy). He later was married to Maria A. Prandy in Arlington, VA, and became father to Pedro J. Binett, Ricardo (Carmen) Binett, Carlos (Anny Maldonado) Binett, Jacqueline Binett; they had four children Luis (Ramonita Rebollo) Mathews, Elizabeth (Alex Velazquez) Mathews , Elsa (Launce Malcolm) Mathews and Judy (Mark Vader) Mathews. Captain Mathews was a veteran of World War II. He served in North Africa and took part in the invasion of Anzio, Italy, where he was cited with the Bronze Star for his actions in that invasion. His unit, the 366th Infantry Regiment, took part in the North Appenines battles to include the capture of the Town of Calomini, Tuscany, Italy, which was a strong point in the Gothic Line. His unit suffered over 40 percent casualties and in a subsequent battle he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat. Collapse of the Gothic Line led way to the push into the Po Valley and eventually into Austria and Germany. Captain Mathews served 41 years on active and Army Reserve status. He also served 30 years in the Federal Civil Service in the Department of Interior and later the Department of Labor, Job Corps, where he made many contributions to giving disadvantaged young people a new start on life through job training programs. He was known as an excellent public speaker and a linguist (he spoke Italian, German, Japanese, and some Arabic). He can be best described by one word, Patriot. He leaves behind his long and productive life, six children; four step-children; his sister, Caroline L. Smith; step-sister, Doris Dillard; nieces, Sheila Isabell and Ramona Roberts; Grandchildren, Nichole D. Mathews-Castillo, Alfreda Mathews, Ian F. Mathews, Alexander K. Mathews, Stephen Binett, Jessica Binett, Joseph Binett, Jeremy Binett, Joshua Binett, Ginnette Binett, Ricardo Binett, Tony Binett, Jacithia Binett, Maria Binett, Dianna Binett, Escarla Binett, Emmanuel Binett, Adela Mathews, Oscar Mathews, Ezequiel Mathews, Aracelis Velazques-Mathews, Ashya Malcolm, Guillermo Mathews, Niejhe Mathews; Great-grandchildren, Nicholas A. Castillo, Zachary M. Castillo and Briana S. Mathews. Visitation will be held Sunday, March 1, 2009, from 2:00PM until time of funeral service at 5:00PM, at Raymond Funeral Chapel, La Plata, MD. Interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery, 9AM, Monday, March 23, 2009. Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Memorial Chapter 36, PFC John C. Demarr, Jr., P.O. Box 147, White Plains, MD 20695.

Fleming Mathews, Jr.

July 27, 1923 - February 15, 2009