The WW2 Ghost that Couldn’t be Killed
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
- US infantry captain Matt Urban was desperate to get out of the hospital. He knew his unit was in trouble back in Normandy, but until he had completely recovered from the wounds he’d picked up there the previous month, the doctors weren’t letting him go anywhere. That is unless he could find an excuse to leave.
Suddenly, he saw his ticket out of there. A rag-tag group of felons, draft dodgers, and pre-war deserters had been bunched together as a makeshift unit. Urban begged to train them, knowing the time would soon come when they were sent to the continent, and he would go with them. His plan worked, and two weeks later, he was on his way back across the English Channel.
Arriving in France, the men had served their purpose, and Urban had no intentions of fighting alongside the unwilling. Leaving them on the beach, he hitchhiked his way to the front lines. The situation was as bad as he had imagined - his unit was pinned down by an onslaught of German bullets coming from high on a ridge.
The soldiers could barely believe their eyes as the indomitable Urban limped toward them, one hand resting on an improvised crutch and the other waving around a .45 caliber pistol. As he pulled a wounded soldier from a burning tank, he yelled: (QUOTE) “Who’s in charge here?” No reply. If they didn’t get out of there fast, they were done for. Everyone present knew there was only one man for the job…
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As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Docs sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect. I do my best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Dark Docs is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas. -
This man wasn’t just a hero , he was a hero over and over again and a true inspiration to his men .
He deserted his men and headed to the front line disobeying orders. What if everyone did that?
@@appraiser1717 we won...
Thanks for bringing his story to light. Men like him are rare. His story should be made into a movie and the whole country should know about him.
If you saw it in movie form you'd probably just wouldn't believe it. This man was amazing never underestimate the Polish.
Worthy of a movie if Hollywood stopped doing remakes.
The dirty dozen
They will make him into a gay black woman dude...
Netflix is planning on doing it, but his character will be a Guatemalan lesbian with a mohawk and nose ring.
Or pretend comic book heros
@@nomadmarauder-dw9re uh pretend? Are you trying to suggest for a moment that spiderman isn't real!?!
I've talked to many WW2 combat veterans at the Veteran Affairs medical facilities. Those veterans who took part of the Normandy invasion never mentioned if there was a ghost aboard ship enroute to England's staging area, nor enroute to the Normandy shores. If there was a uniformed ghost with equipment, and a weapon running across the Normandy beachhead on June 6... that was no ghost. I'm a U.S. Marine veteran to give a shout-out to our U.S. Armed Forces stationed around the world, be safe wherever you go. To the brave courageous men, and women in uniform. Take care of one another, and thank you for risking your precious lives protecting democracy wherever it's threatened. God Bless You All!
It was a guy's nickname.
There was most certainly not a ghost.
My utmost admiration and gratitude for all those brave souls who fought valiantly and honorably, and gave up their lives for something greater than themselves.
Men like Matt Urban are as important as generals. Generals point the way. But men like Urban are the true leaders and motivators of fighting men at the point of conflict.
Have you ever seen the movie "Imitation General?"
@@oldesertguy9616 No. But I did an Imdb check and found it was a comedy that was released in the relatively peaceful period between the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It got good reviews and seems to support the idea that noncoms have better leadership abilities than officers.
“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, 80 are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.” - Heraclitus I think it's safe to say that LTC Urban definitely was definitely one of the Ones.
@@tommyblackwell3760 You reminded me of something I read years ago. Studies following WW II discovered that only a small percentage about 17% I believe actually fired their weapons AT an enemy most firing randomly in the right direction. This in part was by stronger religious aversion to taking life not cowardice. Supposedly that prompted the switch to silhouette targets for training vs the bullseye targets to train to fire at human shapes. Studies from Vietnam did show a greater percentage firing at the enemy.
@@tommyblackwell3760 When I was a police sergeant I was given that quote in a frame. It hung in my office for the rest of my career. It meant something because the guy that gave it to me was "one of the Ones." There are always those guys that fight above their weight and do what needs to be done.
Incredible, I cannot believe I have not heard of this soldier before. I do understand the wanting to be with your unit. You make friends for life in the military, and watching any of them die can be devastating.
You might just say, with a straight face, that he is a true Urban Legend!!
heh heh yeah, like as in The Original and Best Urban Legend of WW2
lol!
Hard to find soldiers like him!!!! No matter the decade!!! Maybe Polish decent, but 100% American!!!! RIP, may God bless his family!!
looked up google- it is a Jew name and most came from Austria too U.S.A> with that surname
@@seanodwyer4322 so what?
Polish or Jewish what did it matter
@@seanodwyer4322 There were many Polish Jews, but this isn't a typical surname for a Polish Jew.
What a bad ass. This was an amazing video, I'm so happy to have learned about Matt Urban, and so proud of him and grateful he received the MOH. What a nero!
Covered in goosebumps! That is why they were the greatest Generation! He was a one man Army! Unbelievable, courage, determination, and love of Country! God Bless you❤🙏
What an amazing story. Despite no matter how my times getting wounded he was determined to go back to the front lines. A lot f soldiers would be dead without him. They don't make em like that anymore. A very brave man who loved this country indeed.
He was a hell of a human being. And one of a kind soldier.
There aren't too many of those kind of guys, but they were wbut held us together and brought victory to the Allied forces.
All medals earned ,what a true grit of a man ,no words can describe his utter will to fight and defeat a enemy like this RIP brave man
The origin of the Dirty Dozen were made by this Legend. Mad respect to the REAL Captain America.
I love that movie, had know idea it was based on real man.
My uncle took part in operation Torch in North Africa and operation Husky the invasion of Sicily except my uncle was with the British 1st Airlanding Brigade 1st Parachute Division and finally went on to Operation Market Garden were he was badly wounded and captured by the German SS troops who treated him with respect because of the fight that the Paras put up .
They both saw some really tough moments during the war and it’s only because of channels like yours that help us to learn the stories of these brave men and their deeds .
Wow… That’s a loyalty beyond comprehension these days. Amazing and fearless 🫡
What an absolute hard charger. The man was made for it. Thank you, Sir.
That's what you call Urban warfare. I'm glad the men like that are on our side. Him and mad Jack and Sergeant York and Sergeant Windfill and Audi Murphy. And I'm sure the list goes on. one of those guys I mentioned was an Englishman.( Mad Jack).
Those field surgeons🫡🫡..Amazing..
My Dad, Julian S Bissette was in WW2 as a combat medic in General Patton's 64th armored tank division. He told me a spooky story about the ghost of a US soldier handing a chocolate candy bar to a little kid but the only thing was that this US soldier had been killed 2 days before that!!
@@julianjeffbissette7238 shivers 😬
Quote from the CMoH Society " In mid-July, while recovering from his wounds, he learned of his unit's severe losses in the hedgerows of Normandy. Realizing his unit's need for battle-tested leaders, he voluntarily left the hospital and hitchhiked his way back to his unit near Saint-Lo, France. Arriving at the 2d Battalion Command Post at 1130 hours on 25 July, he found that his unit had jumped off at 1100 hours in the first attack of "Operation Cobra." Still limping from his leg wound, Capt. Urban made his way forward to retake command of his company. " I have no idea where all that stuff about him using - what was in essence a Penal Company, as a means to getting back to the front - comes from.
Thanks for the video.
I knew a guy who was kept back because of sports. He told the commandant that he didn't think it was right that the other guys risked their lives while he stayed stateside and played basketball while training other pilots. The commandant said that he didn't care what my friend thought. Eventually, they sent him to Europe, but he missed almost all of the combat. I guess that wasn't uncommon back then.
Some one had to train the vast numbers of soldiers sailor , marines , army air corps members . Those instructors were picked because of their skills and I m sure they saved many lives with training they passed on
@@heartland96a Thanks! You make an important point. To be honest, my friend was a good teacher, and I can see why they would hold him back for that reason as well. On the other hand, there was some sense that he was being held back to play basketball, and he felt bad that the guys he'd trained with were risking their lives when he wasn't. They developed friendships in training, and he wanted to share their hardships in Europe as well. He still followed orders and contributed to the best of his ability in the way that he was told to contribute. We all respected him for that service.
@@VTPSTTU understood , a week or so ago I met a WW2 Vet who was honored by being inducted ? Promoted Into the Nebraska Navy as an Admiral , yes its thing . He was 102 bless him
@@heartland96a Yes, God Bless him!
He fought for his boys . Thank you Sir .
He was one hell of a soldier! He and people like him are the reason the Allies won the war! What an amazing story about courage and fortitude in the face of tyranny and death!! Truly the greatest generation! God bless all of the veterans!!
He would be pissed at todays invasion of America through our borders of South American Drug Gangs.
Saaaaalute ❤
Now that right there is a real genuine hero!!! God bless you sir, and thank you 🙏
There's just something about the Polish. Slava Polska!
I have a few Polish neighbours here in Scotland......beautiful people ❤
Actually our family is Czech but Slav is Slav.
Excellent story about a true hero, but I wish you hadn't used the image of the soldier on D-Day. I thought the story was his ! For years I've wondered if he survived. Please, no more bait and switch, OK!
Likewise. Have watched that poor boy fall more times than I can count.
Wow!!! What a man!!! What a soldier and patriot!!! ... Heartfelt Thank you, and Salute!! ... R.I.P.
Out of the hundreds of thousands of our troops on the ground, there were a few real combat heroes, and he was one of them. God bless him for being hard-driven and being a good leader. 😯
More than a few
Definitely more than a few.
You don’t see that many brave men on the field. Well done sir
What a Truly remarkable man incredible actions of a Real Superman…this Amazing man and his incredible bravery are deserving of a Movie..God Bless you Matt Urban❤
this dude was such a bad ass he drove a German vehicle too a commanders meeting while also full of holes and presumably leaking still to have a chat with the brass lol
"He noticed a motley crue--"
"KICK START MY HEAAART!"😅
Brings tears to my eyes ... maybe its dust or something...
... onion ninjas. I have encountered them myself.
Wow, what an incredible story! I am in awe of men like this, I worry that the USA has very few of these men left.
That’s when men were men !! 💪
And now they vote for that craven pos, Trump.
its amazing what determination and sheer will power can do.
What a guy???!!! WOW... I salute you with great respect.
From Capetown down in South Africa....
All I can say is, "Damn!" These are Audie-Murphy-level exploits. Matt Urban's capture of the Sherman tank and firing at the Jerrys from its 50 cal is so similar to Murphy's heroism at the Battle of Colmar Gap where he did the same from a burning tank destroyer. I'm afraid we don't have men like these anymore, but I hope I'm wrong.
They still exist, they are just tired of being accused of toxic masculinity
Made me cry at the end...❤ wonderful video. ❤
Tough bastard!!!
Thanks for sharing this, I never heard of him but he is a true soldier! May he rest in piece❤
Matt Urban is a man worthy of the name
Great video, only fighting while injured only adds more burden on the other men needing to take care of you...there is a reason why recovery is needed
I'd like to know how the lieutenant who Urban unloaded the Dirty Forty on fared. That should be interesting.
No sucker.or loser. A hero.
yea corn pop was telling rusty razor dick all about it
Hard to make all those attacks on the enemy when you are pushing your cajone's around in a wheel barrow.
Couple tons of brass!
God Bless Urban for his bravery and dedication.
Real life plot Armour - put me back in the fight coach. 😮
Wow those dudes where total bad ass's they dont make men like that anymore
”Urban” is not the soldier in the epic movie clip of the soldier with a back pack who gets hit on the beach. Does anyone know the identity of that soldier?
I doubt anyone knows the identity of that soldier, but the poor man definitely was killed in that footage.
Dudes the original rambo
Right!!?
He was at the front of the line where they were giving out balls...
...of STEEL
He was pointed at by Death but never gave up fighting until his war injuries stopped the guy!!
Your article is good. I will block you if you ever misuse thumbnails like that again.
Thank you. I agree… This thumbnail NEEDS to be changed. IMMEDIATELY.
I heard he went on to settle in Ukraine. His grandsons are fighting in the war right now as I am typing this. Stunning, brave, and inspiring.
MATT URBAN... WW2 has been very close to my Soul of Being since age 5 Matt ...Thank You , Maybe I will get to talk with you on the Other Plane of Existence when its Time for me to leave this plane of existence.
No cringe thumbnails. Thanks.
The thumbnail was clickbait though...
@@mschafflewould be interesting to find out what happened to those men in the thumbnail. I have watched that clip thousands of times.
@@snake57The soldier that the thumbnail showed definitely died. If you slow the clip down, he is utterly obliterated by gunfire and one of his legs is severed. Horribly sad.
Nice
Incredible just simply incredible although I fail to understand how the thumbnail fits into this story.
TY for sharing his story.
Lt. Urban was married to my aunt.😊 it's all true.
Hope they make a movie about this man.
Now that’s soldiering! 😮
Absolutely Awesome Soldier!
Cripes! Was he the real inspiration for Captain America? What a guy.
that man became a god on the battlefield only to protect and care for his men... nothing but respect rest well in the halls of Valhalla warrior
Matt Urban you hard mutha F'a GOD BLESS YOU FOR ALL YOUR BRAVERY LEADERSHIP! American soldiers are some hard ass men/some women too. However its not in the name of democracy but in the goodness in us. These are people who are leaders no matter where they are and no matter who they're around they move mountains and like Matt Urban who made Airforce men give him a ride back to Paris they influence those around them to be better and bigger people. He pushed his men by example and they came out on top. But to get hit by the enemy that many times and survive he had the love and light of Christ shining down on him and Angels escorting him wherever he went. A great leader and a man who deserved a beautiful woman and kids so I guess this is why he always needed to be with his men because that was his family and dying for anyone of them would've been just fine with him! RIP MATT URBAN!
Americans are just different man.. the only country where rich men will risk their live and join the military! Such prideful tough people. I love this country!
I am Spotted Horse, I cannot be killed by a bullet.
I found a great book other day in a 2nd hand shop for 50 pence about the sas in ww2 a lot recently released archives and I'm blown away the one guy called himself paddy McGinty wreaked havoc behind enemy lines paddy main true warriors
Pretty badass! They don't make em like this anymore.
What a truly amazing true story of an amazing man.
LEGEND!
🏆
a man powered by pure will not to leave his men by themselfs!
I saw this title notification on my phone and for some reason immediately thought you were burying the lede and it was about moustache man in ww1. Haha
Amen 🙏🏼
Rip. God Bless ❤
if you think this is impressive, check out the hero of of all "invincible soldiers": Adrian Carton de Wiart. shot multiple times in the chest, legs, head x2, one of which is took out his eye and thus his iconic eyepatch came into being. he also tore of his own fingers when the nurse/doctor refused to just so that he could back INTO the fray, took explosive fire and survived, he survived at least 2 plane crashes, and at the end of it all, he said his most famous marking quote that sealed his fate in the halls of heros: "Frankly, I enjoyed the war".
he fought in both WW1/WW2, survived, faught in africa, survived. fought in the battle of the somme, survived (dunno if he took part in the second charge). took (i believe) 12 shots in multiple fatal spots, survived etc. this motherfucker, as we fair people of the anime series Fate: This guy's got the guts system going (basically a revive upon death skill). every time he "dies", he just comes back for more...which REALLY pissed off the Germans xD. Sabaton does a song all about him. i love the "super hero" vibe/tune they give it.
Um Cpt. Urban did not land on D-day. He landed June 11th on Utah Beach. Wounded on June 14th.
The usual with these people they don’t even KNOW D DAY .
A brave man, may he rest in peace ❤
He surely earned even more awards by actions that went unknown or those that saw were not alive to report them , you need others to make those claims and superiors to file the papers . pretty sure though if he’d be wondering if his sacrifice was worth it the way some have
Poland has had awesome warriors since the Crusades! I especially like Wojtek of WW2!
Urban what a rare man fighting on the allies side a man who you would want to lead you into battle a fighting man who gives you confidence when all looks as though this could be your last battle he lead's you to victory when all seems lost a shinning light out of hell 💥💥💥💥🪽 like a ray of hope sent from heaven to fight for freedom and bring a dark 🌑 cloud that was all around to eventually freedom out of the darkness into the light remarkable man legend a film 📽️ should be made to get this story world 🌍 wide 🤝🙏
oakleaf cluster on a silver star means he earned more than 1, maybe he had one before, wouldnt know from this video.. now, if it have been a V device, that would be something
They don't put V devices on Silver Stars. Valor is inherent in the award. V devices are for Bronze Stars and below to differentiate valor awards from merit awards. The V device was introduced post WW2 because General Marshall thought all Infantry troops who received the Combat Infantryman Badge likely did something that merited the Bronze Star.
Audie Murphy Vibes here..! 🪖⚔️
The OG Ghost!
wow they dont make many like that ! what a man
Legend
The photo of the beach is misleading its nothing to do with that man
8:06 this is actually the real Audie Murphy from the movie To Hell and Back
I always wondered who the soldier was that is shown in this video being shot on the beach.Thought this was the story.
Gallantry of the likes that has never been seen nor ever will again!
think there'z a song by sabaton where they go"he went to war ...and came back aaaaa~~~~~live" he lost an eye a hand and was stabbed to raw meat not the same guy though i think im not sure but both went to death'z door and were like "I WANT TO FEEL PAIN SIR" it'z always death of fellow troop'z that drive them to keep on going
Now we know who this person is.
If a military member tried this today they would be courtmartialed for something. 100%.
A legend 😎
Hail, the conquering hero comes!
Anyway, those bloody nurses back then were five times better than the doctors they've got now. They were 24ct gold.
God bless those nurses who were dedicated, skilled, discerning, and cleaned up all the shit. The doctors and nurses these days are so full of book learning they couldn't tell an arse from an elbow.
Wow.....
incredible.
A one-man wrecking crew.
Urban Warfare.