Matt Urban

Early years

Matt Urban was born Matthew Louis Urbanowicz in Buffalo, New York. His parents Stanley and Helen Urbanowicz (Urban) were Polish immigrants. Urban was baptized at Corpus Christi Church and attended Buffalo East High School. He had three brothers, Stanley (Urbanowicz) Urban, Arthur (Urbanowicz) Urban, and a younger brother Eugene who died in 1927 from appendicitis. His father was a plumbing contractor.

In the 1940 Census, Matt was living with the family home at 1153 Broadway. He completed three years of college under the name of Matthew Urbanowicz. Urban majored in history and government with a minor in community recreation at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and graduated on June 14, 1941 with a Bachelor of Arts degree using the name Matty L. Urbanowitz. While at Cornell University, he was a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and the track and boxing teams.

U.S. Army

The U.S. Army service records for Urban uses both "Matt Urban" and "Matty Louis (L.) Urbanowitz". The name "MATT LOUIS URBAN" was engraved on the front of his original white Arlington National Cemetery headstone. His current and private grave monument at Arlington National Cemetery uses the name, "Matt L. Urban".

Urban was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the U.S. Army on May 22, 1941 and entered active duty on July 2, 1941 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

World War II

He served as a first lieutenant and captain in six campaigns during World War II and was severely wounded his seventh time while charging an enemy machine gun position in September 1944, in Belgium. He was promoted to major and lieutenant colonel on October 2, 1944 and October 2, 1945 respectively. He was medically retired from the U.S. Army on February 26, 1946.

Beginning at Fort Bragg, Urban served as a platoon leader. During the war he was a morale and special services officer, a platoon leader, a company executive officer and company commander, and a battalion executive officer and battalion commander of the 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division ("Old Reliables"). Urban first went into combat when he made the beach landing under fire with another soldier on a raft during the invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch) of the North Africa Campaign on November 8, 1942. Along with a Purple Heart, one of the first medals he received was a Silver Star.

While serving with the Second Battalion, 60th Infantry, he was wounded seven times. A member of his unit, Sgt. Earl G. Evans, wrote:

The major, only a lieutenant at the time, was wounded in Maknassy, Tunisia and refused to be evacuated. He followed up this refusal by taking out a combat patrol. At another time in Tunisia, our battalion successfully halted a German counterattack, and it was through the major’s efforts that we succeeded. As our outfit was falling back, the major held his ground and grabbed the closest German. He killed him with a trench knife, took the German’s machine pistol, and fired at the onrushing enemy.

The Germans counterattacked and Urban was wounded by grenade shrapnel. After service in Africa, he was with his unit six days following the unit's landing at Normandy (he left the hospital to command them), when his company attacked German positions near Renouf, France. They were hit by heavy enemy small arms and tank fire. Urban found a bazooka and persuaded an ammo carrier to accompany him through the hedgerows to a point near the tanks. Exposing himself to the enemy, he knocked out both tanks, and the company moved forward and routed the enemy. Later that day, while advancing near Orglandes, Urban was struck in the leg by direct fire from a 37mm tank-gun. Wounded twice, he was evacuated to England for treatment.

While recovering, he learned that his unit, which had taken severe losses in the hedgerows of France, was lacking for experienced combat officers. He left the hospital with a more than serious leg wound, and hitchhiked his way back to his unit near St. Lo, France. Operation Cobra (July 25-31, 1944) was about to commence. Urban, limping, arrived at 2nd Battalion HQ to find that the company was checked by strong enemy opposition. He located an intact tank, but without a tank commander or gunner, it was not moving. Slowed by his leg wound, he ran through enemy fire and mounted the tank, taking over its machine gun in the turret. He ordered the tank to advance and fired on the Germans. His actions energized the battalion who resumed the offense and destroyed the enemy position. On 2 August, Urban was wounded in the chest by shell fragments that narrowly missed his heart. He again refused to be evacuated to a hospital. On August 6, Major Max L. Wolf, the Second Battalion Commander, was killed in action near Cherbourg, France, and Urban, only 24 years old, assumed command of the battalion. Urban was wounded again on 15 August, but remained with his unit. On October 2, he was promoted to major.

Beginning in October 1945, he was a staff writer and later an editor for Liberty Magazine's ("Liberty", 1924-1950) Veterans' View Bulletin until October 1947 (he was medically retired from the U.S. Army in February 1946). During this time he was promoted to lieutenant colonel (October 2, 1945) and changed his legal name from Matty Urbanowitz to Matt Urban.

Later career

In 1949, he became the Recreation Director in Port Huron, Michigan. Starting in 1956, he took a job as Director of the Monroe, Michigan, Community Center until 1972. After leaving the job, he continued to serve the community center as coach for basketball, baseball, and football programs. At Monroe, he also trained several young men who became national Golden Gloves Champions. He was appointed chair of the Michigan Olympic Boxing Committee. Later, as part of the Chicago Olympic Committee, he was one of three trainers who accompanied Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) to the San Francisco Olympic tryouts.

After Monroe, he became the Director of the Recreation Department for Holland, Michigan from 1972 to 1989. He organized a camp for under-privileged children and became its Camp Director, served as Boys Club director, and a Cub Scout Cubmaster. He was also involved in other activities and organizations like the Red Cross, the Amateur Softball Association, and Boy Scouts, as chairman, board member, and committee member. He was inducted into the Hall of Honor at the Softball Hall of Fame.

Recognition for military service

In early 1979, a Michigan Disabled American Veterans (DAV) regional service representative who had come to know Urban personally over a long period of time, sent an official Medal of Honor recommendation inquiry to U.S. Army Headquarters. The misplaced MOH recommendation for Urban was found and revealed that Major Max L. Wolf, Urban's battalion commander in France, had initiated a Medal of Honor recommendation for Urban just prior to Major Wolf being killed in action in France, in July 1944. The U.S. Army then completed the necessary recommendation process to award Urban the Medal of Honor.

In 1980, by the direction of the President, the Department of the Army awarded Matt Urban the Medal of Honor, in the name of the Congress. On July 18, 1980, he was presented the Bronze Star Medal (second oak leaf cluster), the Legion of Merit, and the Purple Heart (sixth oak leaf cluster) by the U.S. Army and the Croix de guerre with silver-gilt star by a representative from France during a special ceremony at the Pentagon. On July 19, President Jimmy Carter presented to Matt Urban the Medal of Honor in front of several hundreds of guests which included fellow 60th Infantry veterans who witnessed Urban's actions in combat:

In 1989, Urban retired and wrote an autobiography, The Matt Urban Story, Life And World War II Experiences.

Death

Urban died on March 4, 1995, in Holland, Michigan. The cause of death was a collapsed lung, reportedly due to his war injuries. He is buried in Plot: Section 7a, Grave 40 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel (then captain), 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division
Place and date: Renouf, France, 14 July to 3 September 1944
Entered service at: Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 2 July 1941

"G.O. No.: 10, 18 September 1980" (official copy)

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty: Lieutenant Colonel (then Captain) Matt Urban, 112-22-2414, United States Army, 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 2nd 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, 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 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 Army.

Military awards

Matt Urban's military awards include fourteen individual decorations for combat he received from the U.S. Army: the Medal of Honor, two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Star Medals (two for heroism), and seven Purple Hearts. This appears to be the most number of individual decorations for combat awarded to an infantryman by the U.S. Army for World War II. He received five combat decorations for valor from the U.S. Army.

Urban received the following military decorations and awards:

  Combat Infantryman Badge

Personal awards and honors

Urban's personal awards and honors include: