2/ Born in well-to-do family of farmer in Syrmia, region of today's Serbia, Matić joined Communist Party of Yugoslavia in his youth and following Axis invasion and occupation of Yugoslavia in April 1941 took part in organising armed resistance . During the war he advanced in Partisan ranks, commanding a brigade and ending the war with the rank of Lt. Colonel.
His sister also took part in combat and died in war, posthumously being, like her brother, awarded Order of People's Hero, the highest military decoration of post-WW2 Yugoslavia.
The Order was established in 1942, during the war, and was being given since the dissolution of country in 1991. There were 1322 persons being given the Order, most of them posthumously in early 1950s.