Biographical Sketch of Major Matthew J. Burrell

Major Matthew J. Burrell was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on the twenty first of October, nineteen hundred. He attended Fairmont Teachers College, West Virginia, and was later employed by long lines department of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company in Pittsburgh.

From civilian life, Major Burrell was commissioned in the Officers' Reserve Corps, July 29, 1928. He attended summer camps at Fort Monmouth and Fort Meade, and graduated from the course for National Guard and Reserve Officers, United States Army Signal School.

He reported for active duty January 2, 1941 with the Armored Force at Fort Knox, Kentucky, assignments being Division Signal property officer of First Armored Division, Assistant Division Signal Officer and Company Commander of the First Signal Armored Battalion. In December nineteen forty-one, Major Burrell was relieved from the Armored Forces and assigned to the Caribbean Defense Command, where he organized the First Reporting Company of the 558th Sig A W Bn at Fort Gulick, C. Z.. Until June eighth, nineteen forty-two, he remained on this assignment, at which time he was assigned as Assistant Signal Officer of the XXVI Fighter Command. he functioned in that capacity until September the eighth of this year when he was relieved to be returned to the United States. Major Burrell arrived here from the Air Force Redistribution Center at Miami Beach and assumed command of this battalion ont eh eighteenth of November, nineteen forty three.