Whakaotihia te rerenga e whai ake nei: I whānau a Mathisen ki Arlington, Virginia i te tau 1954. Ko tōna pāpā, ko Chris, he kaikawe pakanga i a ia i te United States Navy i te Pakanga Tuarua o te Ao, ā, i pūrongo i te
Te tuku o Hapani i runga i te USS Missouri, a muri ake ko te kaiawhina whakahaere mo Burr Harrison. He kaitoi tōna whaea, a Meri. I puta ia i te Whare Wānanga o Virginia i te tau 1976.