From Medal of Honor Citations for World War II:
URBAN, MATT
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel (then
Captain), 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, World War
II. Place and date: Renouf, France, 14 June to 3 September 1944. Entered service
at: Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 2 July 1941. Date and place of birth: 25 August
1919, Buffalo, New York. 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.
Lieutenant Colonel Urban was originally recommended for our Nation's highest award for courage by his battalion commander in 1944. Unfortunately and tragically, his superior was killed in action before the Medal of Honor recommendation made it all the way through the chain of command. Thanks to an inquiry to the Army launched by a representative of the Disabled American Veterans in 1979, Matt Urban was decorated with his 36-year overdue honor by President Carter in 1980.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Lieutenant Colonel Urban also received two Silver Star medals, the Legion of Merit, and three Bronze Star Medals for action in combat, and seven Purple Hearts for wounds received.
Matt Urban died of natural causes at age 75 in 1995. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
We thank him for his outstanding service to our Nation in the face of evil and tyranny. June 14 to September 3, 1944 was his finest hour!
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