Nyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Mathisen akaberekerwa muArlington, Virginia muna 1954. Baba vake, Chris, vaiva mutori wenhau dzehondo pavaiva muUnited States Navy munguva yeHondo Yenyika II uye vakanyora nezvokunzwa kweJapan
aiva mungarava yeU.S.S. Missouri uye gare gare akanga ari mubatsiri anotarisira waBurr Harrison. Amai vake, Mary, vaiva muimbi. Akapedza kudzidza paYunivhesiti yeVirginia muna 1976.