Ride to the Sound of the Guns : The Life of a Cold War Warrior, Brig. General Ret. Theodore C. Mataxis

Finalist, 2025 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Awards

"I have read lots of leadership books, but this one now goes to the top of the list for the Army officers that want to aspire to doing leadership and mentorship correctly. They will also see what sacrifice and service to nation really looks like. As I meet with those about to take command of Army units my #1 recommendation will be to read, study, and understand Ride to the Sound of the Guns." ― Bryan “Doug” Brown, General, 7th Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command

An “adrenaline junky,” Ted Mataxis was the perennial volunteer who saw action in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

After just three and a half years in the Army, he was a battalion commander in brutal combat with the 2nd Battalion, 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division “Trail Blazers,” during the last German offensive during the winter of 1944. In the spring of 1945 he participated in the breakthrough of the Siegfried Line and the subsequent pursuit into Bavaria. Volunteering to go to the Pacific for the invasion of Japan, he was en route when the atomic bombs were dropped. He returned to Europe for occupation duty, seeing the start of the Cold War in Berlin.

In 1950, he attended the Indian Army Staff College then served in Kashmir with the United Nation Peacekeeping Mission. He then volunteered for the Korean War where he commanded a regiment, at the age of 36, during the bitter campaigns of Triangle, T-Bone, and Pork Chop Hills. This was followed by an early tour in Vietnam as Senior Advisor to the ARVN Commanding General of II Corps for the 16 months that heralded the escalation of the fighting by the introduction of the regiments of the North Vietnamese regular army. Upon the arrival of American troops in February 1966, he became the Deputy Commander of the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. After serving in Iran, he volunteered to go to Vietnam for a second tour, serving as Assistant Division Commander and then as Acting Division Commander.

In 1971, with one day’s notice, he was assigned as Chief of the Military Equipment Delivery Team for Cambodia (MEDT-C). He retired from there in 1972. During the Soviet–Afghan War, he became the field representative/coordinator for A Committee for a Free Afghanistan, spending time behind the lines with the Mujahedeen where he was known as “The Old American General who brought them Stinger Missiles.” When he became “too old to run with the young dogs,” he finished out his years as a professor for American Military University sharing his experiences and mentoring young military personnel.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Chapter 1: The Early Years
Chapter 2: ROTC 1936–40
Chapter 3: Active-Duty Mobilization, 1940–44
Chapter 4: Germany, WWII, 1944–45
Chapter 5: German Occupation WWII with Family, 1945–47
Chapter 6: Indian Staff College in New Delhi & UN Observer in Kashmir, 1950–52
Chapter 7: Deputy G-2, Executive Officer & 17th Infantry Regiment, Commander 5 May–4 June 7th Infantry Division. Korea, 1952–53
Chapter 8: Infantry Tactics Instructor, Fort Benning, GA: 1953–57 / Army War College, Carlisle, PA, 1957–58
Chapter 9: Staff & Commander 1st Airborne Battle Group 505th, Mainz and Bad Kreuznach, Federal Republic of Germany, 1958–61
Chapter 10: Executive Officer, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC, 1962–64
Chapter 11: II Corps Senior Advisor MACV & Deputy Commander, 1st Brigade 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam, 1964–66
Chapter 12: Assistant Division Commander, 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, 1967–68
Chapter 13: Chief Army Military Advisor Group Iran, 1968–70
Chapter 14: Return to Vietnam, 1970 as DCG and Acting CG Americal Division, and the MEDT-C, Cambodia, 1971–72
Chapter 15: Singapore 1972–75
Chapter 17: The Organization and Operation of The Committee for a Free Afghanistan and Field Advisor, 1983–89
Chapter 18: The Later Years

Lieutenant Colonel Ted Mataxis joined the Army Reserve 20th Special Forces Group in 1962 while still in high school. Commissioned into the Infantry in 1969, he first served as a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne. He volunteered for Vietnam and extended multiple times between 1969 and 1972, serving with the 101st Airborne, the ARVIN Airborne and 23rd Division followed by an assignment as an advisor with the ARVIN Border Rangers. Upon return to the States, he was ODA 535 Commander (HALO/SADM), with A Co, 3 Bn, 5th Special Forces Group. Joining the newly formed Joint Special Operations Command, he served as the Chief of the Exercise and Evaluation Branch for five years. During Urgent Fury, he was the LNO to ADM Metcalf and Maj. Gen. Schwarzkopf. He served as XO then DCO for 7th SFG. He volunteered as the Chief of Operations Planning Assistance and Training Teams (OPATT) and the National Civil Defense Coordinator to the Armed Forces of El Salvador, 1988–89. Mataxis was then selected as the Activation Cell Chief for the reactivation of 3rd SFG, then moved to be the Chief, Plans and Operation Division of the recently formed USASOC during Just Cause. He returned to 3rd SFG as XO and then DCO, during which time he served as rear detachment commander for Desert Storm.
Upon retirement in 1993, Mataxis worked for Moore County Schools for 22 years, as principal at various schools, and as director of the career and technical education programs. After retiring from public education, he returned to work for the government as a contractor with Booz Allen and with the USASOC History Office. He retired in 2021 to write this book about his father’s life.