Matt Urbanowicz: Even more decorated than Audie Murphy

by Barry Hastings

He was bom in Buffalo, N.Y., Aug. 25, 1919, while the wrap-up of World War I was being completed, and while U.S. Soldiers (Doughboys) of the day were serving with the “White Russians,” trying to overthrow the two-plus-year-old communist revolution of Lenin, and company. Many of them had previously helped defeat the German Kaiser in November 1918. His parents, Stanley and Helen Urbanowicz, were Polish immigrants — his father a plumber. He had three brothers, Stanley, Arthur, and young Eugene, who died of appendicitis in 1927. His given name was Matthew (Louis), later shortened to ‘Matt.’ He attended Buffalo’s Corpus Christi Church and Buffalo East High School.

According to census figures, he was living in the family home on Broadway, in Buffalo, as World War II approached in the late ’30s. He completed three years of college at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., majoring in history and government, minoring in community recreation. He graduated on June 14, ’41, with a bachelor of arts degree. He was member of Cornell’s track and boxing teams, and of the university ROTC unit. He received his diploma a scant six months before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, ’41.

Besides his college degree and a bit before it, his ROTC training paid off. He was commissioned second lieutenant of infantry, U.S. Army, on May 22, 1941. He entered active duty with the Army on July 2, 1941, at Fort Bragg, N.C. Lt. Matt L. Urbanowicz, U.S. Army.

Much later, and very belatedly, President Jimmy Carter would refer to him as, “The greatest soldier in American history.” You’ll soon understand why.

Matt served as junior lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain through six major military campaigns. The North African campaign (Operation Torch), followed by five European campaigns. Beginning with his duty at Fort Bragg, Matt served as platoon leader. Onset of war increased responsibilities. At war he served as morale officer, special services officer, company executive officer (second in command), company commander, battalion executive officer, and battalion commander of the 60th Infantry Regiment, 9^th Infantry Division (known in military circles as the “Old Reliables.”)

Urbanowicz’s first combat came under enemy fire on Nov. 8, 1942, when he and another soldier made the North African beach in a rubber raft. His first medal was the Purple Heart (you’ve gotta bleed to get one), quickly followed by a Silver Star. He was wounded seven times during his wartime service with the 60^th Regiment. A soldier, Sgt. Earl Evans, early on, wrote of him, “he was only a lieutenant at the time. He was wounded at Maknassy, (NA) and refused to be evacuated. He followed up by taking a combat patrol into the field.” Later in the campaign, the sergeant continued, in a German counter-attack, Matt’s men were retreating. He “held his ground,” then grabbed the nearest German, killed him with a trench knife, and used the enemy’s own machine-pistol to drive off the attackers.” Urban was wounded by grenade shrapnel in the counter attack. His whole soldiering career was episode after episode of similar actions.

Six days after D-Day (6-6-’44) Urbanowicz and his men were ordered to attack German positions near Renouf, France. They were, in turn, counter attacked by heavy German infantry and armored forces. Matt found a bazooka, and persuaded an ammo carrier to assist him. They moved through the hedgerows to a position near the tanks. Exposing himself to enemy fire, Matt knocked out both enemy tanks. Later the same day, while advancing on the enemy forces, he was struck in the leg by fire from a 37mm anti-tank gun. He was evacuated to England for surgery and rehab.

While recovering, though still limping badly, Matt learned through the grapevine that his unit had taken heavy losses in the hedgerows of Belgium and France, and was hurting for experienced combat officers. He finagled his way out of the hospital, found a ride across the channel, and hitch­hiked his way to St. Lo, where his outfit was on the attack, but checked in-place by a strong enemy defensive position. He located a tank intact, but with no commander and no gunner, though the driver was alive. Running through enemy fire, he mounted the tank and began firing the topside machine gun at enemy positions. He ordered the tank driver to advance on the enemy, the gunner to fire on them. His act of courage under fire inspired soldiers, and energized the whole battalion, which went on offense and destroyed the German position. Urbanowicz’s leadership skills often frustrated German plans, and earned him a nickname among enemy soldiers — “the ghost.”

A few days later, on Aug. 2, now Captain Urbanowicz was wounded in the chest by shell fragments that only ‘just’ missed his heart. Again he refused evacuation, and when the battalion commander was killed in action, Captain Urbanowicz, twenty-four (that’s 24) years old, assumed command. Believe me, I could continue with similar stories — true stories — about his five, five-and-a-half years in the Army, but I’d use up more space than I’m allotted, and more than I allot myself.

Suffice it to say, he was wounded in action seven times, and received seven Purple Hearts. In addition, and before leaving the Army, he’d won two Silver Stars; the Legion of Merit; three Bronze stars w/’V for valor; the French Croix de Guerre; the Belgian Croix de Guerre & Belgian Fourragere; and the U.S. Combat Infantryman badge. He’d also, unknown to him, been nominated for the Medal of Honor. More was to follow, but only after a lengthy delay.

Just days before he was himself killed in combat, Urbanowicz’s CO had recommended him for the the Medal of Honor. A 1978 review of Matt’s service file revealed the recommendation, which had (likely) never been seen by anyone but the writer; and the CO who died while in possession. The letter was shown to President Carter. He resolved to act on it, and bestow the medal.

After the war, Matt became a staff writer, and later an editor for Liberty Magazine’s Veterans’ View Bulletin for two years. He changed his name from Matty Urbanowicz to Matt Urban. In 1949 he became recreation director for the city of Port Huron. In 1956 he became director of the Monroe (MI) Community Center until 1972. Even after leaving the director’s job, he continued coaching the baseball, basketball and football programs there, and he also coached several Golden Gloves Boxers who became champions in the national program. 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 Muhammad Ali to the San Francisco Olympic Boxing tryouts — we all know where that went.)

After leaving Monroe, Matt became director of recreation for the city of Holland, from 1972-89, when he retired. His death, due to a collapsed lung, on March 20, 1995, was believed to result from one of the seven serious wounds he received in combat, 1942-45.

Meanwhile, wheels were turning faster at the Pentagon. The original letter putting Urban forward for the Congressional Medal of Honor, was originally written by a sergeant and given to his CO — the man who was killed before he could forward the letter to higher authority. He had, however, before he was killed, authorized by initial sending it upstairs. Thirty-odd years later, the sergeant wondered why he’d heard nothing, and made an inquiry to the Pentagon. The misplaced recommendation was followed up, the Army did their paperwork, and President Carter took rapid action to see justice done.

Early in 1980, President, Congress, and Army Department combined to award Matt Louis Urban the congressional Medal of Honor. On July 18, 1980, in D.C., he was presented a second Bronze Star Medal, the Legion of Merit, and a sixth Oak Leaf Cluster to his Purple Heart, by the U.S. Army. Later in the evening, the French government awarded him the Croix de Guerre with silver gilt star at a Pentagon ceremony. Next day, with a crowd of several hundred present (many of them old wartime friends), President Carter presented him the Congressional Medal of Honor. He received, in all, 29 awards for wounds or valor in combat, and replaced Audie Murphy as the Most Decorated American Soldier. Two great soldiers and leaders.

Matt was the Amateur Softball Association’s Michigan Commissioner for 15 years after I got in the game, and the game was peaking. It stayed on the peak for a long while, and is now declining (since turn of the century). Matt wrote an autobiography entitled, The Matt Urban Story, life and WWII experiences. (Many thanks to MASA, Midland, MI for a good deal of help  — B.H.)