Matt Urban Matt Louis Urban ( August 25 , 1919 – March 4 , 1995 ) was a highly decorated United States Army infantry officer who served with distinction in the Mediterranean and European Theater of Operations during World War II . He scouted , led charges upfront , and performed heroically in combat on several occasions despite being wounded . He was awarded over a dozen combat decorations by the U . S . Army . In 1980 , he was awarded and presented the Medal of Honor and four other combat decorations belatedly for repeated acts of heroism in combat in France and Belgium in 1944 . The Guinness Book of World Records in 1989 , considered Urban to be the United States Army ' s most combat decorated soldier of World War II . Early years . Matt Urban was born " Matty Louis Urbanowitz " , the son of Stanley and Helen Urbanowitz , in Buffalo , New York . He was baptized at Corpus Christi Church and attended Buffalo East High School . His father was a plumbing contractor of Polish heritage . He graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca , New York with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and government with a minor in Community Recreation , in June 1941 . While at Cornell University , he was a member of the Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity , track and boxing teams , and the Reserve Officers Training Corps ( ROTC ) . Urban was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army on May 22 , 1941 and entered active duty on July 2 , 1941 at Fort Bragg , North Carolina . He finished his military service as a Lieutenant Colonel and was medically retired from the U . S . Army on February 26 , 1946 . He served as a platoon leader , morale and special services officer , a company executive officer and commander , and a battalion executive officer and commander , of the 60th Infantry Regiment of General Manton Eddy ' s 9th Infantry Division ( " Old Reliables " ) which was awarded twenty - four Distinguished Unit Citations for World War II . In 1979 , a Michigan Disabled American Veterans ( DAV ) regional service representative had come to know Urban over a long period who after becoming acquainted with Urban and his war - time experiences ( seven Purple Heart s ) over a long period of time , sent an official Medal of Honor recommendation inquiry to U . S . Army Headquarters . The Pentagon found that Urban ' s battalion commander had initiated Urban ' s Medal of Honor recommendation prior to being killed in action in July 1944 . The U . S . Army completed the necessary recommendation process and officially awarded Matt Urban the Medal of Honor in 1980 . President Jimmy Carter presented the Medal of Honor to Urban saying , " " Matt Urban is the greatest soldier in American history . He showed that moments of terrible devastation can bring out courage . His actions are a reminder to this Nation so many years later , what freedom really means . It is of soldiers like Lt . Colonel Urban that victories are made " " . Lieutenant Colonel ( then Captain ) Matt Urban , 112 - 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 . Military service . 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 Army . Post World War II . Matt Urban was the Recreation Director in Port Huron , Michigan from 1949 to 1956 , the Director of the Monroe , Michigan , Community Center from 1956 to 1972 , and the Director of the Recreation Department of Holland , Michigan from 1972 to 1989 . Urban started and became a Camp Director for under - privileged children , Boys Club director , a Cub Scout Master and was involved in other activities and organizations like the Red Cross and Boy Scouts , as chairman , board member , committee member , and coach . He retired in 1989 completing his co - authored World War II biography , " The Matt Urban Story , Our most combat decorated Soldier " . Urban died in Holland , Michigan , and is buried in Section 7A at Arlington National Cemetery .