Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Mathisen akaberekerwa muArlington, Virginia muna 1954. Baba vake, Chris, vakanga vari mutori wenhau wehondo vachiri muUnited States Navy muHondo Yenyika II uye vakafukidza
Kuzviisa pasi kweJapan ari mungarava yeUSS Missouri uye gare gare akanga ari mubatsiri anotarisira waBurr Harrison. Amai vake, Mary, vaiva muimbi. Akapedza kudzidza paYunivhesiti yeVirginia muna 1976.