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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.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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