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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.
Citation: 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.
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