(Glenn Gramigna, AM-POL Eagle) Lt. Col. Matt Urban, the man President Jimmy Carter called, “America’s Greatest Soldier” will finally be honored with a memorial in front of the Rath Building on Sat., June 14.
Despite the fact that he earned 29 combat related medals in World War II, more than any other soldier in American history, he was not recognized for his heroism until 1980 when he was invited to Washington by Pentagon officials and President Carter. In fact, his own family didn’t know what he had done during the war because this soft spoken, kindly man simply never talked about it.
“Uncle Matt, like many veterans of World War II, just never talked about what he had done in the war, so we simply didn’t know,” recalls his niece, Babbidean Urban Huber. “All I knew growing up was that my uncle Matt had a gravelly voice. I didn’t know he got it because he had been shot through the neck after returning to combat despite being injured several times before! So when we heard that Uncle Matt was going to be honored by the Pentagon in Washington and given the Medal of Honor, it was a total surprise.”
Matt Urban was a true American hero. However, using the quote of Jimmy Carter in the opening sentence detracts from the greatness of Mr. Urban. It is well acknowledged that Jimmy Carter will always be known as the worst President in American History. Perhaps a bit more editing of this piece would have sufficed. Mr. Urban deserves much better.
Mike Kozlowski
Oh, puhleeze, Mike. It was Carter’s administration that pushed Matt Urban over the top as the most highly decorated veteran.
You’re swipe at Carter detracts from the story.
ag
Norm Skulski fought a long time for this honor