Document
Catalog Number
2021.14.425Description
Document on Disabled American Veterans, Holland Chapter Number 14, Holland, Michigan letterhead, written February 25, 1980. Subject: Outstanding Disabled American Veteran of the Year. This seems to be a rough draft document of item 2021.14.423a-b. There are handwritten pencil marking with changes to be made. This copy has 2 signatures on it for Harvey D. Slotman and Elwood (Pete) Brush.History
Matt Urban was born to Polish parents in Buffalo, NY in 1919. He graduated from Cornell University before entering the U.S. Army on July 2, 1941.Urban served in the 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. He was wounded seven times during his service to our country. Each time he rejoined his men and continued to fight.
He received 29 different medals for his military service. The final medal, the Congressional Medal of Honor, was received in 1980 for acts of heroism in France and Belgium. This medal was awarded to him by President Jimmy Carter.
He retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel on February 27, 1946, due to medical reasons from wounds he received. He moved to Holland, Michigan after the war and lived there until his death on March 4, 1995. He is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
Matt Urban became the City of Holland Recreation and Civic Center director in 1974. In recognition of his valor the city council of Holland gave the name Matt Urban Drive to the new street off South Washington that leads past the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Hall to West Forty-Eighth Street. Urban retired from the City of Holland in 1989 after 17 years as the recreation department director. The City of Holland renamed the 32nd Street sports and recreation complex to the Matt Urban Sports Complex on September 14, 1996.