Lieutenant Colonel Matt Louis Urban (August 25, 1919 – March 4, 1995) was a United States Army officer who served with distinction in World War II. He was belatedly awarded the Medal of Honor, in 1980 for repeated acts of heroism in combat in France and Belgium in 1944. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, he is the most decorated American serviceman,[1] though that distinction is disputed.
Matt Urban was born "Matty Louis Urbanowitz", the son of Stanley and Helen Urbanowitz, on August 25, 1919 in Buffalo, New York. He was baptized at Corpus Christi Church and attended Buffalo Public School #57. His father was a plumbing contractor of Polish heritage. Matt Urban was appointed a Second Lieutenant, Infantry Reserve, in July 1941 at Fort Benning, Georgia, following graduation from Cornell University with a degree in history and government,[2] where he was in the Reserve Officer Training Corps. While at Cornell, he became a member of Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity. A Lieutenant Colonel, he was medically retired from the Army in February, 1946.
Matt Urban ("The Ghost") as a war-time infantry officer was awarded thirty-five U.S., French, and Belgian military awards for World War II. He became one of the most heroic American combat soldiers and with the most number of combat decorations (updated by the Army), he became the most decorated U.S.combat soldier for World War II. His military awards and military decorations include the Medal of Honor ("limitless bravery..."), two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Star Medals (two with Valor Devices), seven Purple Hearts, the French Croix de Guerre (War Cross) with Bronze Star, Silver Gilt Star, and Palm, the French Liberation Medal, the Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm, the Belgian Fourragere (shoulder cord, unit decoration), and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Matt Urban (75) passed away at his home in Holland, Michigan on March 4, 1995 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Medal of Honor citation
Lieutenant Colonel (then Captain) Matt Urban, l 12-22-2414, United States Army, who distinguished himself by a series of bold, heroic actions, exemplified by singularly outstanding combat leadership, personal bravery, and tenacious devotion to duty, during the period June 14, to September 3, 1944 while assigned to the 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.
Medal of Honor
On June 14, Captain Urban's company, attacking at Renouf, France, encountered heavy enemy small arms and tank fire. The enemy tanks were unmercifully raking his unit's positions and inflicting heavy casualties. Captain Urban, realizing that his company was in imminent danger of being annihilated, armed himself with a bazooka. He worked his way with an ammo carrier through hedgerows, under a continuing barrage of fire, to a point near the tanks. He brazenly exposed himself to the enemy fire and, firing the bazooka, destroyed both tanks. Responding to Captain Urban's action, his company moved forward and routed the enemy.
Later that same day, still in the attack near Orgalndes, Captain Urban was wounded in the leg by direct fire from a 37mm tank-gun. He refused evacuation and continued to lead his company until they moved into defensive positions for the night. At 0500 hours the next day, still in the attack near Orglandes, Captain Urban, though badly wounded, directed his company in another attack. One hour later he was again wounded. Suffering from two wounds, one serious, he was evacuated to England.
In mid-July, while recovering from his wounds, he learned of his unit's severe losses in the hedgerows of Normandy. Realizing his unit's need for battle-tested leaders, he voluntarily left the hospital and hitchhiked his way back to his unit near Saint-Lô, France. Arriving at the 2d Battalion Command Post at 1130 hours, July 25, he found that his unit had jumped-off at 1100 hours in the first attack of Operation Cobra. Still limping from his leg wound, Captain Urban made his way forward to retake command of his company. He found his company held up by strong enemy opposition. Two supporting tanks had been destroyed and another, intact but with no tank commander or gunner, was not moving. He located a lieutenant in charge of the support tanks and directed a plan of attack to eliminate the enemy strong-point. The lieutenant and a sergeant were immediately killed by the heavy enemy fire when they tried to mount the tank. Captain Urban, though physically hampered by his leg wound and knowing quick action had to be taken, dashed through the scathing fire and mounted the tank. With enemy bullets ricocheting from the tank, Captain Urban ordered the tank forward and, completely exposed to the enemy fire, manned the machine gun and placed devastating fire on the enemy.
His action, in the face of enemy fire, galvanized the battalion into action and they attacked and destroyed the enemy position.
On August 2, Captain Urban was wounded in the chest by shell fragments and, disregarding the recommendation of the Battalion Surgeon, again refused evacuation. On August 6, Captain Urban became the commander of the 2d Battalion. On August 15, he was again wounded but remained with his unit.
On September 3, the 2d Battalion was given the mission of establishing a crossing-point on the Meuse River near Heer, Belgium. The enemy planned to stop the advance of the allied Army by concentrating heavy forces at the Meuse. The 2d Battalion, attacking toward the crossing-point, encountered fierce enemy artillery, small arms and mortar fire which stopped the attack. Captain Urban quickly moved from his command post to the lead position of the battalion. Reorganizing the attacking elements, he personally led a charge toward the enemy's strong-point. As the charge moved across the open terrain, Captain Urban was seriously wounded in the neck. Although unable to talk above a whisper from the paralyzing neck wound, and in danger of losing his life, he refused to be evacuated until the enemy was routed and his battalion had secured the crossing-point on the Meuse River. Captain Urban's personal leadership, limitless bravery, and repeated extraordinary exposure to enemy fire served as an inspiration to his entire battalion. His valorous and intrepid actions reflect the utmost credit on him.
Military awards
Medal of Honor, Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with "V", Valor Device (2) and two Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Medal with six Bronze Service Stars and Amphibious Landing Arrowhead (Algeria-French Morrocco), World War II Victory Medal, French Croix de Guerre with Silver Gilt Star and Palm, French Liberation Medal, Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm, Belgian Fourragere, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Audie Murphy is often cited as America's most decorated war veteran. However, the Guinness Book of World Records lists Urban as "the Most Combat-Decorated Soldier in American History". However, while Urban may exceed Murphy by number of awards, he did not receive the Distinguished Service Cross, America's second-highest decoration for valor. It could be argued, however, that Murphy was equaled, if not surpassed, in combat awards (especially when they were awarded for separate actions) by Lieutenant Robert L. Howard, the U.S.'s most highly-decorated soldier of the Vietnam War.[1]
Matt Urban is the most decorated U.S. combat soldier for World War II, he exceeds Audie Murphy by having the most number of military combat "decorations" for World War II.
