Audie Leon Murphy was a legend in his own time.
A war hero, movie actor, writer of country and western songs, and
poet. His biography reads more like fiction than fact. He lived
only 46 years, but he made a lasting imprint on American
history.
Audie was born on a sharecropper's farm in North Texas on June
20, 1924. As a boy, he chopped cotton for one dollar a day and was
noted for his feats of derring-do and his accuracy with a gun. He
had only 5 years of schooling and was orphaned at age 16.
After being refused enlistment during World War II in both the
Marines and Paratroopers for being too small (5'5") and underweight
(110 lbs), he enlisted in the U.S. Army a few days after his 18th
birthday. After basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas, and advanced
training at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, Audie was sent
overseas.
He was assigned to the famous 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd
Infantry Division where he fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy,
France, and Germany. He earned a battlefields commission for his
courage and leadership ability as well as citations and decorations
including every medal for valor that America gives. He was also
awarded three French and one Belgian medal. Lieutenant Audie Murphy
was the highest decorated soldier in American history.
Discharged from the Army on September 21, 1945, Audie went to
Hollywood at the invitation of movie star James Cagney. He remained
in California for the rest of his life and was closely associated
with the movie industry, both as an actor and a producer. He acted
in 44 films, starring in 39 of them. His best known film was "To
Hell and Back," adopted from the best selling book of his war
experiences by the same name. Most of his movies were westerns.
In 1955, Audie Murphy was voted the Most Popular Western Actor
in America by the Motion Picture Exhibitors. Audie wrote the lyrics
to 16 country and western songs, the most popular of which was
"Shutters and Boards," written with Scott Turner in 1962. The song
was recorded by over 30 pop singers, including Jerry Wallace, Dean
Martin, and Porter Waggoner. He was an accomplished poet;
unfortunately, only a few of his poems have survived.
In 1950 Audie joined the 36th Infantry Division ("T-Patchers")
of the Texas National Guard and served with it until 1966. He was a
Mason and a Shriner and belonged to several veterans organizations.
Audie Murphy was killed in a plane crash on a mountain top near
Roanoke, Virginia on May 28, 1971. Fittingly, his body was
recovered 2 days later on Memorial Day. Audie could very well be
the last American war hero. He was the greatest combat soldier in
the 200 year plus history of the United States.
Medal of Honor Citation
2d Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks
and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to
prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his
command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery
by telephone. Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank destroyers
received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the
woods.
2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed
large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks
abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank
destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and
employed its .50 caliber machinegun against the enemy. He was alone
and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed
dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver.
The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back.
For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate
2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out
a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank.
Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his
fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the
single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then
made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and
organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans
to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the
enemy; he killed or wounded about 50.
2d Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an
inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and
destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the
enemy's objective.
Congrats to the jbravo for the early morning
FTF!