Son of Roy Arch Campbell and Caroline Amanda Campbell, Matt helps his parents, breeders in Eagle Valley. Matt enlists in the US Army in Spokane, Washington State. He is then assigned to the 9th Infantry Division that he joins when it comes back from Sicily. The division moves to England in November 1943. The preparation in England is made of intensive trainings, landing drills until D-Day.

D-Day for the division happens on June 11, 1944 when it lands on Utah Beach. On June 12, it must move to the bridgehead West of the Merderet river

.

On June 14, the attack is launched North of the Douves river along with two divisions, the 82nd Airborne Division and the 90th Infantry Division.

The 60th Infantry Regiment the first regiment of the division on the frontline. Suffering some light weapons and mortar fire, it takes le Hameau Renouf late in the day and at dusk the secondary road 24 coming from Orglandes.

While moving towards Orglandes , 2nd as well as 3rd battalions lose contact with the regiment, the Germans infiltrate between the two battalions and, as a result the 3rd battalion is almost surrounded.

On June 15, the 60th Infantry Regiment's advance resumes before dawn; but quickly it has to cope with panzers. Heavy fighting oppose the units, a battalion of the 60th Infantry Regiment retreat in the morning.

During these fighting Matt is made prisoner.

He is transfered and interned in Stalag 221 in ST Jacques-de-la-Lande near Rennes.

Facing the American progression, German troops lock 40 prisoners, including Matt, in freight cars.

In that train, there were between 1200 and 1600 prisoners, civilians as well as militaries.

On August 2nd, the train leaves Rennes. Throughout its drive, this convoy of deported will face many events, but in late afternoon of August, 6th the convoy stops at the railway station in Langeais following the railways' destruction due to an ammunition train being machine-gunned.

By the end of this day, six P-38s Lightning fly over and machine-gun the convoy. Several prisoners take advantage from the confusion to escape, the Red Cross will care for the true and pseudo wounded. 18 dead body will be collected, and among them was Matt Campbell.