Matt Urban

Matt Urban was born "Matty Louis Urbanowitz", the son of Stanley and Helen Urbanowitz, was born in Buffalo, New York. He was baptized at Corpus Christi Church and attended Buffalo East High School. His father was a plumbing contractor of Polish heritage. Urban graduated from Cornell University with a degree in History and Government in June 1941. While at Cornell University, he was was a member of the Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity, boxing team, and the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in May 1941. He started active duty and training on July 2, 1941 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He finished his military service as a Lieutenant Colonel and was medically retired from the U.S. Army on February 26, 1946.

Lieutenant and then Captain Urban (called "the Ghost"), served as an infantry officer with the 9th Infantry Division during the war. He became one of the most heroic American combat soldiers having received seven Purple Hearts. In 1979, a Michigan Disabled American Veterans (DAV) representative who after becoming acquainted with Urban and his war-time experiences over a period of time, sent a Medal of Honor recommendation inquiry to U.S. Army Headquarters. The Army found Urban's Medal of Honor recommendation application and completed the recommendation process that had been initiated by Urban's commanding officer in France in 1944 before being killed in action. By direction of the President, the Department of the Army in the name of the Congress, awarded Matt Urban the Medal of Honor in 1980. On July 18, 1980, the Army presented Urban several combat decorations that had been awarded to him but were not presented to him personally. On July 19, he was presented the Medal of Honor by President Carter, himself a World War II veteran, saying, "Matt Urban is the greatest soldier in American history". Since then, Matt Urban, having the most number of combat decorations, is considered to be the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of World War II.

After the war, Urban became the Recreation Director in Port Huron, Michigan. Later, he was the Director of the Monroe, Michigan Community Center for many years. He retired in 1989 after being the Director of the Civic and Recreation Department in Holland, Michigan and completed his autobiography, "The Matt Urban Story". Urban (75) passed away in Holland, Michigan, in 1995 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Urban's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

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 14 June to 3 September 1944 while assigned to the 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. On 14 June, 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 decimated, 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 Orglandes, 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 hear St. Lo, France. Arriving at the 2d Battalion Command Post at 1130 hours, 25 July, 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 2 August, Captain Urban was wounded in the chest by shell fragments and, disregarding the recommendation of the Battalion Surgeon, again refused evacuation. On 6 August, Captain Urban became the commander of the 2d Battalion. On 15 August, he was again wounded but remained with his unit.

On 3 September, 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 and uphold the noble traditions of the United States.^[2]

The 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 one Silver Service Star and one Bronze Service Star and Amphibious Landing Arrowhead (Algeria-French Morocco), 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.

•    Medal of Honor

•    Silver Star with one bronze oak leaf cluster

•    Legion of Merit

•    Bronze Star with Combat "V" for Valor with two bronze oak leaf clusters

•    Purple Heart with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster

•    Presidential Unit Citation

•    American Defense Service Medal

•    American Campaign Medal

•    European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze stars

•    World War II Victory Medal

•    French Croix de Guerre

•    Combat Infantryman Badge

Audie Murphy has been often proclaimed as "the most decorated soldier, World War II". In 1980, Matt Urban was awarded and presented the Medal of Honor and some other combat decoratons for his actions in France and Belgium in 1944; some were awarded but not presented to him. Urban highly decorated with seven Purple Hearts, was now considered to be the most decorated U.S. combat soldier, World War II. However, Urban did not receive the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), the second-highest U.S. military decoration for valor or the highest French military decoration, the French Legion of Honor, both awarded to Murphy.

The U.S. Army has since corrected and updated both Murphy's and Urban's authorized military awards. Urban gained more military awards and decorations while Murphy lost a couple of military medals that aren't combat decorations--the French Liberation Medal which Legion of Honor recipients are not entitled to (by French Decree, 1948) since this military award also recognizes the liberation of France and the Army Occupation of Germany Medal since Murphy did not meet the full 30 consecutive days on duty only award requirement (was on leave in Germany). The Army DSC (and Fr. Legion of Honor) counts as one military decoration (military award) no matter how high of a military award precedence it is. Urban exceeds Audie Murphy in the number of U.S. and foreign combat decorations for World War II; Urban with seven Purple Hearts exceeds Murphy in number of U.S. combat decorations.

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
• Richard Bong - highest-scoring ace pilot of the U.S. Army Air Forces.
• John D. Bulkeley
• David McCampbell - highest-scoring ace pilot of the United States Navy.
• Audie Murphy - most decorated United States Army combat soldier during World War II.

^ "Matt Louis Urban" biography

• "Arlington National Cemetery bio". Retrieved October 4, 2010.
• "Cornell Alumni news article about Urban '41". Retrieved October 4, 2010.
• "Home of Heroes". Retrieved October 4, 2010.

Template:Persondata