Retired Army Major General William “Bill” Matz, former Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission, died yesterday morning surrounded by his beloved family.

Secretary Matz, who served the agency from 2018–2021, will be remembered as a great leader and caring mentor. Under his leadership, ABMC led U.S. commemorative efforts in Europe marking the 100th anniversary of the end to World War I as well as 75th milestone commemorations of D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. He saw the agency through the trials of a global pandemic, maintaining operations without neglecting standards of care, worked to advance capital improvement projects across Europe and the Pacific, and continued to strengthen international partnerships abroad.

“His devotion to ABMC and its goals was unquestionable and he never lost his focus on bettering our team and our sites, improving them in innumerable ways,” said Acting Secretary Robert J. Dalessandro. “His finely honed infantry leadership skills and good sense of humor will be missed.