Great-uncle ties for most decorated soldier of WW II
By BURLON PARSONS bparsons@journal-spectator.com

Photo by Brenda Stelzel East Bernard fifth grader Karen Johnston shows the project she put together for her late great-uncle Lt.Col. Matt Urban.

When East Bernard fifth grader Karen Johnston had to do a heritage project for her class, she immediately thought of her late great-uncle Matt Urban.

He had been a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army's 60th Regiment of the 9th Division. He fought in North Africa, Sicily, France and Germany.

While most folks know about Audie Murphy being from Texas and the most decorated soldier of World War II, few know that Lt.Col. Urban equalled Murphy in medals. But he did not receive his Medal of Honor until 35 years after the paper work had been turned in. It had been lost for all that time.

Murphy returned home and became a celebrity and movie star after his service.

Urban came home a disabled veteran from his seven war wounds and was manager of the city's recreation center in Holland, Mich. He died March 4, 1995.

His citations included the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Croix de Guerre, Presidential Unit Citation, American Campaign Medal and the Purple Heart with six oak leaf clusters.

His Medal of Honor citation referenced 10 separate acts of bravery which spanned most of the Normandy campaign. He was wounded twice fighting German tanks with bazookas.

One wound, shrapnel through his leg, required hospitalization for six weeks in England. He was back in combat in six weeks.

German intelligence kept up with major American officers during the war. As they kept seeing Col. Urban return to fight they dubbed him "The Ghost."

One incident when his unit bogged down from German fire, he crossed open ground to an abandoned tank and mounted the turret machine gun under fire to route the German troops.

Another wound resulted when a German bullet went through his neck and he fell within 30-yards of the enemy. Two of his unit's men risked their lives to drag him back to friendly lines and get him help.

After his seventh wounding, he was pulled out of combat. Col. Urban earned 29 medals in 20 months of combat.

His Medal of Honor citation was lost in the piles of Pentagon paperwork after the war.

The Pentagon was prodded by a Michigan American Veterans group and his paperwork was found. President Jimmy Carter presented him the Medal of Honor in a Washington, D.C., ceremony in 1980 - 35 years late.

Karen had heard of her great-uncle's exploits from her dad, Peter Johnston. But she did not know the details of his experiences.

When the heritage project came up, she thought of him immediately.

"I knew my dad had said the Medal of Honor was the highest medal awarded for combat," Karen said. "I talked to my dad and learned more about him."

She put together her paper and made a display about Lt.Col. Urban. Her teacher liked the report.

Karen learned something, too.

"I know that I appreciate him even more for what he did for his country," she said.