Postage stamp sought to honor Polish-American Catholic war hero

Published: 2004-11-16

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) -- The Polish American Congress, based in Brooklyn, has stepped up its petition drive to convince the U.S. Postal Service to honor Lt. Col. Matt Urban, a Polish-American Catholic who is one of America's two most decorated World War II heroes. Born Matthew Louis Urbanowicz in Buffalo, in 1919, he earned 29 decorations in the war, including seven Purple Hearts for being wounded in action. He died in 1995 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The Brooklyn organization wants the Postal Service to honor Urban with a postage stamp, as it did in 2001 for legendary World War II hero Capt. Audie Murphy, who earned 33 medals and decorations. Like Murphy, Urban received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor. It is awarded by the U.S. Congress for a soldier risking his or her life in combat beyond the call of duty.

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