America's Most Decorated Soldier in World War II: Matt UrbanWho really is America's most combat decorated soldier in World War II? For 35 years most people would have said that it was Audie Murphy; and he certainly was deserving of the title. However, in 1980, Lt. Col. Matt Urban finally received his long overdue Congressional Medal of Honor. This story depicts his numerous wartime exploits and heroism under fire; his dedication to all those under his command, often with disregard for his personal safety. Urban landed with the first American troops in Africa, leading his battalion in capturing Hill #409 in the Sedjenane Valley. He then single-handedly destroyed one of Rommel's two largest radio transmitters in the world, shot down a German plane, and knocked out two German Mark IV tanks. Urban commanded his troops in six major campaigns in Africa and Europe, receiving his seventh Purple Heart after being shot through the throat in Belgium. He led the 3rd Army breakout from the hedgerows of France and subsequently was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor. According to the 1989 "Guiness Book of World Records," Urban was declared the most combat decorated soldier in American History. |
Contents
Chapter 1 Early Years | 1 |
Old officers new soldiers | 7 |
Europe at | 10 |
Copyright | |
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2nd Battalion 60th Regiment 9th Division 9th Infantry Division aboard Africa Afrika Korps Air Force Allies American Armored Division arms artillery shell attack awarded Bastogne battle bazooka beach Belgium Bizerte bombing boxer boxing Bradley British buddies bullet Captain Urban captured cars Colonel combat Company Congressional Medal Corps D-Day damn dead ditches doctor Eben Emael Eisenhower enemy feet Field Marshal fighting fire foxholes France French French Foreign Legion front lines gave German tank grenade head headquarters hedgerows Hitler Holland hospital invasion jeep Kasba killed knew landing later Lieutenant looking machine gun Major Matt Urban Matt's Medal of Honor medics Meuse River Montgomery moved Navy never night officer Panzer Patton Phillipeville prisoners pulled Purple Heart radio rear rifle road Rommel Sebock sergeant ship shoot shot shrapnel Silver Star soldiers Sprindis stopped Third Army took train troops turret United Weinberg World World War II wounded