The Matocha Website

Home at Last New
September 23, 2004 - Quala Matocha

Home at last. After missing in action in South Vietnam since April 5, 1968, the remains of U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Donald John Matocha finally came home to his family and friends in the small Southeast Texas town of Smithville. ...

“Semper fidelis” - the Marine Corps motto – means “Always Faithful” and that warm Saturday morning, the Department of Defense and the Corps held true to that promise as Matocha came home, 36 years after his final fight....

"A saga that started on a mountain top in the Republic of Vietnam comes to a conclusion,... It ends here in this small Texas farming community that Donald called home. After more then 36 years the last member of team "Dallas Girl", Lt. Donald J. Matocha is home from service to his country, returning to family and friends,"

Long-missing Marine comes home at last
September 5, 2004 - Houston Chronicle

Donald Matocha balked when his sister Linda asked him to be godfather to her soon-to-be-born son. He was being ordered to Vietnam with a reconnaissance unit, Matocha warned, and his chances of returning home to Smithville were not good. Unfazed, his sister stuck with her decision. Months later, on April 5, 1968, the young Marine was killed in action.

Thus, Wayne Masur never met his uncle. But even after death, the Marine fulfilled the mentoring obligations of a godfather. The stories family members told made it seem Matocha never had died. ...

Smithville Marine's remains to come home after 36 years
August 9, 2004 - AMERICAN-STATESMAN

More than 36 years after Marine 2nd Lt. Donald John Matocha of Smithville was killed in a firefight in Vietnam, and eight years after a former enemy told authorities where to find him, his nephew will be escorting some of his remains home...