🎖️The man with 7 x Purple Hearts and MOH

Good morning,

A few weeks ago I came across a man who was nicknamed "The Ghost", he was given this name because he kept coming back to fight despite his wounds. It was research just for a simple Facebook post which you may or may not have seen, but he deserved to feature in a newsletter for obvious reasons as you will see.

But first...

On this day - 2007

Operation Juniper Shield, formerly known as Operation Enduring Freedom - Trans Sahara (OEF-TS) - is the US military operation in regions of Africa, consisting of counterterrorism efforts to reduce arms and drug trafficking across central Africa. This is part of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) and is still ongoing. 

In todays newsletter we honor... 

Matt Urban

A man who was awarded seven purple hearts tells us why his nickname was given. As well as those, he was also awarded two silver stars, three bronze stars and of course the Medal of Honor, which he only received years later. Why? Well read on to find out.  ⬇️ 

Matt was born in 1919 and grew up in New York, where he stayed to go to University, and where he was a member of the boxing and track teams.

After graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1941 and had the most remarkable 5 years of service. 

His active service in WWII started in North Africa, when he was serving with Second Battalion, 60th Infantry.

He was wounded several times, and along with the purple heart, Urban received his first silver star after refusing evacuation from a combat situation.

On another occasion he stopped an entire German counter attack by holding his ground, killing a German soldier with a trench knife, before taking his pistol, and firing at the enemy. He was injured by grenade shrapnel on that day and was evacuated for treatment.    

After further combat experience in Sicily, Urban and the 9th Infantry Division were sent to England where they rested, gathered resupplies, and trained for the Invasion of Normandy, in which Urban took part in D-Day Landings on Utah Beach on June, 11th, 1944.

On that day, and as casualties mounted, Urban picked up a bazooka after its gunner was shot, along with the ammo carrier. He advanced through some hedgerows to spot the German tanks advancing onto their positions. Urban exposed himself to the enemy, and took out two tanks himself, before he became injured by a shrapnel from a tank that fired at him. Even being injured, Urban refused evacuation to stay and lead his men.

The very next day, he was injured again in the arm, and this time he could not continue without surgery and was sent back to England to recover.

However, being a natural leader and fierce fighter, Urban could not sit there and do nothing. So, he trained 40 soldiers near the hospital and left with them on a troop carrier to Normandy. He dropped them off, and then hitch hiked back to his battalion which were still fighting in France, whist still limping from his injuries, with a make shift cane he made.

He arrived to find his unit were pinned down by strong German resistance, and so got his men moving again from their foxholes and ditches. Urban pulled a wounded Sherman tank driver from a burning tank, before locating another tank which he crawled up into, instructed the driver to advance the tank into a high gear, and head towards the enemy.

Urban then took out the German machine gun position. Germans fired at the tank, but could not destroy it or slow Urban! The 2nd Battalion advanced behind him in the tank and into the assault, where they engaged with bayonets, overall making huge gains that day.

He was recommended for the Medal of Honor, by a Battalion commander who witnessed the event from his position.

After further combat in Belgium, Urban suffered serious injury when he was shot in the neck before being evacuated. Due to his injuries, he lost his voice and made a written request to go back to the front line, it was rejected. 

He was eventually medically retired in 1946, not long after being promoted to lieutenant colonel (he was 24). It took him less than 5 years to reach that rank, which is an extortionary feat in its own right. He was only awarded the Medal of Honor in 1980 after the initial recommendation was misplaced.

May he RIP

Did you know?

The U.S. military is the largest user of energy in the world, consuming more energy than many countries on their own. The military has been working to develop and implement alternative and renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and biofuels. Maybe Elon is working on this...

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Have a great week and speak soon.