Talk:Matt Urban
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[edit] Awards
There are many questions attendant to Urban's Medal of Honor award and some of his other awards as well. Almost immediately after receiving the Medal of Honor, Legion of Merit and French Croix de Guerre in 1980 - almost 40 years after the actions for which he was cited - he initiated a campaign to be billed as "Most Decorated Soldier of World War II." Assisted by a "military historian" and dealer of military collectibles in Maryland, Urban succeeded in being listed as "Most Decorated . . " in Guiness' for a brief while.
Urban's combat record, however distinguished, doesn't begin to compare with Murphy's. Murphy was awarded the DISTINGUIHED SERVICE CROSS, second in precedence to the Medal of Honor, which Urban never received. Likewise, Murphy was awarded the LEGION D' HONNEUR AU GRADE DU CHEVALIER, France's top decoration. Urban did not. While Urban received the CROIX DE GUERRE AVEC ETOILE VERMEIL (FRANCE) - the French Croix de Guerre with silver-gilt star device - Murphy was TWICE awarded the CROIX DE GUERRE AVEC PALME (FRANCE), the French Croix De Guerre with palm device, the same decoration only in a higher degree or class. Murphy also received the CROIX DE GUERRE AVEC PALME (BELGIUM), the Belgian Croix de Guerre with palm device.
Re unit awards. Although the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (ARMY)(formerly Distinguished Unit Emblem) is NOT an individual award, Urban was only entitled to ONE AWARD (to 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry for action in the Sedjanane Valley, Tunisia in 1943). The only other award he could have been entitled to was for action at Sainte Colombe, France, but Urban was hospitalized in England at the time of that action. Urban's regiment, 60th Infantry, was cited twice in the Orders of the Day of the Belgian Army. This entitles the regiment to the Fouragerre in the colors of the Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm. However, to be eligible for the Belgian Fourragere, an individual is required to have participated in BOTH actions for which the unit was cited. (Also, there is not, nor has there ever been, a "Belgian Fourragere Medal.") Urban participated in the action at Heer, Belgium, in which he was wounded and evacuated, effectively ending his military career altogether. While Murphy took part in 8 of the 10 designated campaigns for which 3rd Infantry Division was credited, Urban, given his dates of service, could only have taken part in four campaigns - Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy and Northern France. One bronze 3/16" star device for each campaign. Also, these star devices - like the Combat "V" device authorized for certain decorations - cannot properly be considered decorations or even awards.
A complete list of Murphy's decorations and awards: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star (two awards), Legion of Merit with "V" Device, Bronze Star with "V" Device (three awards), Purple Heart (three awards), Combat Infantryman Badge, Presidential Unit Citation (two awards), Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Expert Qualification Badge with bar "Bayonet", Marksman Qualification Badge with bar "Carbine", American Theater Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal with 8 bronze campaign stars, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Service Medal with "Europe" Clasp, Legion d' Honneur au Grade du Chevalier (France), Croix de Guerre avec Palme (France) (two awards), Croix de Guerre avec Palme (Belgium).
A complete list of decorations and awards to which Urban is actually entitled: Medal of Honor, Silver Star (two awards), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with "V" Device (three awards), Purple Heart (seven awards), Combat Infantryman Badge, Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, American Theater Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal with 4 bronze campaign stars, World War II Victory Medal, Croix de Guerre avec Etoile Vermeil (France). Murphy never wore in excess of eight ribbons - Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal with 1 silver and 2 bronze campaign stars (representing 7 campaigns), French Legion of Honor and French Croix de Guerre with 2 palm devices. Urban wore all to which he was entitled (and then some).
A number of individuals' had combat records excelling Urban's. Lieutenant (later Vice Admiral) John D. Bulkeley, who evacuated MacArthur from the Philippines to Australia in 1942, was entitled to the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross (two awards), Distinguished Service Medal (three awards), Silver Star (two awards - one navy and one army), Legion of Merit (two awards), Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Order (Great Britain) and Croix de Guerre avec Etoile Vermeil (France). Army Air Corps Major Richard I. Bong, the all-time highest scoring American ace held the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star (three awards), Distinguished Flying Cross (seven awards), Air Medal (fifteen awards), Purple Heart. Except for an additional award of the Purple Heart, Army Air Corps ace Thomas B. McGuire's record of awards was identical to Bong's.
Bob Powell
[edit] Photo of Medal of Honor
Uhh, the photo of the Medal of Honor on the page (as of 3/28/07) is a Navy Medal of Honor!
Lyle F. Padilla Major, Armor, US Army Reserve (Retired) lpadilla@voicenet.com 209.158.189.60 14:44, 28 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Decorations Today
Does anyone know any information about who has these decorations today? --Cjs56 19:19, 11 June 2007 (UTC)
