Supporting a commemorative stamp in honor of Lt. Colonel Matt Urban
New developments have recently taken place in the effort led by the Polish American Congress (PAC) to have a commemorative stamp issued for Lt. Colonel Matt Urban. Background information about the effort is available at the Congress website
In the recent exchange of correspondence between Anthony J. Bajdek, Polish American Congress’ Vice President for American Affairs and the United States Postal Service, Terrence W. McCaffrey, Manager, Stamp Development, United States Postal Service advised that the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee has recently reviewed the proposal for a commemorative stamp honoring Matt Urban. “I am pleased to inform you Lt. Colonel Matt Urban is now under consideration for possible future stamp issuance. (…) Currently, the 2010 and 2011 stamp programs are completed, and stamp subjects for the 2012 program and subsequent years are being selected” he wrote.
To date, the Polish American Congress has collected thousands of signatures in support of the issuance of this stamp. Per USPS request, all those petitions are going to be forwarded within the next month or so to the USPS for the Committee’s review. After that, the collection is going to return to the PAC.
Among the signatories are many veterans of World War II, one of whom, for example, is Walter Stanko of Swansea, MA who served in the U. S. 9th Infantry Division with Matt Urban. Walter has collected some 5,000 signatures of Americans living in the Naragansett Bay area of New
England. The Polish American Congress was also advised that additional petitions and letters might be sent at any time.
Before submitting its current collection, however, the Polish American Congress seeks to gather as many additional signatures as possible to “freshen up the bouquet” and show the community’s support for the effort.
Please help us to honor the memory of Matt Urban (1919-1995), who is tied with Audie Murphy for being the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II. Murphy was honored with a USPS commemorative stamp in 1999-2000.
To make that happen, please download the petition, collect as many signatures as possible and return the form(s) to the Polish American Congress.
Time is now of the essence, so please make sure to return the signatures by March 15, 2010 to:
Matt Urban Stamp Campaign
Polish American Congress
1612 K Street NW, Suite 410
Washington, DC 20006
Mr. Phillips,
You should read the citation at Home of the Heroes.
Lt. Col. Urban is indeed the “Most Decorated.” Better yet, the Home of the Heroes page states: Frankly, I’m not upset or offended by any community that tends to present the facts in such a way that they highlight hometown heroes. I’m thankful that those hometowns are justly proud of their local heroes.
For some reason, you wish to turn the valor of these men into some sort of competition, rather than honoring both. Not clear as to why, especially if the factual case is not as clear cut as you seem to think. Also, who is tied with can have several meanings beyond the literal meaning of numeric equivalency. It can also mean related to or joined with. This is actually how I understood the statement.
I chose to honor both as men from humble, immigrant roots who chose to go above and beyond the call of duty, for their fellow man and for their country. After all, it is not a competition. Please feel free to go ahead and petition your government. Both men, and many others, helped to earn you that right.
Attn.: Dave Phillips,
My Dad, Captain Bergen Vincent Farrell (USArmy retired) was a highly decorated veteran of WWII and Korea. I have many of his medals but not sure if we have them all.
I was impressed with your ability to recall the history of the gallant soldier Colonel Urban.
Could you tell me where i need to go to track my Dad’s history?
Regards, Bergen Vincent Farrell jr.
I cannot support this as well.
No way in blue blazes will I support this.
I’m in total agreement with Dave on this as he is right on target.
Do your research, Deacon, and you’ll find that dave is right!!!
John,
An interesting comment, reminiscent of many similar on-line comments found in various forums. I agree/don’t agree with… No facts, no substance, no well formed thought you may have developed on your own. Such comments remind me of the Monty Python sketch where a character visits the Argument Clinic. Rather than encountering a well developed argument, the official in the Clinic simply negates everything the character says…
I therefore negate what you say, and as the owner of this blog, I do not need blue blazes to do it. I would, of course, rather spend time honoring those who fought so bravely. Sorry you do not feel that way.
Dave — read the CMH citation for Matt Urban — Murphy couldn’t hold his chin strap — this guy was a “real-life Rambo” with a college degree from Cornell (ROTC) to boot
As Pres Carter said when conferring the CMH on then Lt.Col Urban — “greatest soldier in our country’s history…. Matt Urban showed that moments of terrible devastation can bring out courage. His actions are a reminder to this nation so many years later of what freedom really means.”
Matt Urban deserves to be commemorated by a stamp. Dave is correct that Audie Murphy was higher decorated and received more medals but the French Legion of Honor awarded to Murphy was the chevalier or fifth or lowest grade and best equates with the US Bronze Star.
Matt Urban an American World War II hero of Polish descent with over 30 military awards for World War II. Matt Urban is considered to be the most decorated U.S. combat soldier (officer) of World War II since President Carter (and France) awarded him the Medal of Honor for “limitless bravery…” and some other back combat decorations in 1980.
Matt Urban has more military medals and more military decorations than Audie Murphy for World War II, he is not tied with Audie Murphy in the amount of military decorations for WW2.
Matt Urban (Normandy…1944) is entitled to the French Liberation Medal (and some other updated military awards and decorations) while Audie Murphy is not entitled to this medal as a French Legion of Honor holder (which is awarded particially for liberating France).
The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee has completed the stamp selection for 2011 and 2012 (stamp selection hasn’t been approved yet); Matt Urban is under possible consideration for 2013.
A U.S. Congressional Resolution (H Con R 181, considerating Matt Urban to be the most decorated combat soldier, WW2) was summitted from Michigan with several US Congressional co-sponsors in 2009 (111th Congress, 2009-2010) for a USPS commemorative postal stamp for Matt Urban and his World War II service. This process if and when approved by U.S. Congressional committee takes precedence for a USPS stamp.
Read Matt urban’s biography, “The Matt Urban Story”, 1989 and “Most Decorated Soldier in World War II: Matt Urban”, 2006, to learn why President Carter called, “Matt Urban the greatest soldier in American history”.
Matt Urban is the most decorated U.S. combat soldier, WW2 since he has the most number of combat “decorations” including seven Purple Heart decorations. The Army updated his awards and decorations. The DSC and French Legion of Honor each count as one decoration. The Legion of Honor is below the Purple Heart in award precedence.
President Carter said, “it is of soldiers like Lt. Col. Urban that victories are made”. Urban destroyed Rommel’s field communication center, led the Army off the Normandy beach, and led the charge into Belgium. Urban became a community leader and hero after the war helping and coaching poor and disadvantaged kids in sports, scouting etc. A Congressional resolution was submitted to Congress for a USPS commemorative postal stamp for Urban and his WW2 service in 2009.