Colonel Matthew Bogdanos (?at?a??? ???d????) is an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan (since 1988), author, and a colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. In 2003, while on active duty in Marine Corps, he led the investigation into the looting of Iraq's National Museum, and was subsequently awarded the National Humanities Medal for his efforts. He had previously gained national attention for the prosecution of Sean Combs, who was acquitted of weapons and bribery charges in a 2001 trial stemming from a 1999 nightclub shootout.

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Biography

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Bogdanos is native New Yorker, who attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School and waited tables in his family’s Greek restaurant while growing up in lower Manhattan.

In November 2005, he was awarded a National Humanities Medal from President George W. Bush. ^{[1] [2]} Has also received the 2004 Public Service Award from the Hellenic Lawyers of America, the 2006 Distinguished Leadership Award from the Washington DC Historical Society, and a 2007 Proclamation from the City of New York. ^[3] Released back into the Marine Reserves in October 2005, he returned to the District Attorney’s Office, and continues the hunt for stolen antiquities. ^[4] A former middleweight boxer with a record of 23-3, he still boxes for the New York City Police Department’s Widows and Children’s Fund. ^[5]

Receiving National Humanities Medal in 2005

Publications

• Thieves of Baghdad is his first-hand account of his journey to recover Iraq’s lost treasures. His royalties from the sale of the book go to the Iraq Museum.

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Awards

1st Row		Defense Superior Service Medal	Bronze Star
2nd Row	Defense Meritorious Service Medal	Meritorious Service Medal	Joint Service Commendation Medal	Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal
3rd Row	Joint Service Achievement Medal	Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal	Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 2 oak leaf clusters	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 1 service star
4th Row	Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal w/ 2 service stars	National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal	Afghanistan Campaign Medal
5th Row	Iraq Campaign Medal	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal	Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
6th Row	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 1 service star	Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon w/ 2 service stars	Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon	Armed Forces Reserve Medal

See also

• National Museum of Iraq

Notes

1. Recovering History,”
2. National Humanities Awards, 2005
3. Cultural Resources Update, 2007
4. McClelland, Eileen (Houston Chronicle) (March 17, 2006) “Treasure Hunter.”
5. Hunter, Karen (New York Daily News) (March 17, 2001). “Prosecutor’s Bloody but Unbowed.”

References

1. Recovering History,”
2. National Humanities Awards, 2005
3. Cultural Resources Update, 2007
4. McClelland, Eileen (Houston Chronicle) (March 17, 2006) “Treasure Hunter.”
5. Hunter, Karen (New York Daily News) (March 17, 2001). “Prosecutor’s Bloody but Unbowed.”