Audie Murphy ~ Military Heroes Series Traditional Cache
Audie Murphy ~ Military Heroes Series
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Camouflaged peanut butter jar hidden along the Saline Ford Trail.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Audie Murphy tried to enlist in the military, but the services rejected him because he was underage. Murphy tried once again to enlist but was declined by the Marines and the Army paratroopers as too short and underweight at 5 feet 5.5 inches and 110 pounds. The Navy also turned him down for being underweight. The United States Army finally accepted him.
Murphy was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division and sent to Morocco for extensive training maneuvers in north Africa. He saw his first combat action in Sicily and Salerno Italy before landing in France. Murphy earned the Distinguished Service Cross and 2 Silver Stars before receiving a battlefield promotion to 2nd Lieutenant.
On January 26, 1945 Second Lt. Murphy's unit was attacked by six tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to a prepared position in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post alone and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on a burning tank destroyer and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. Murphy received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued his single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way back to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack, which forced the Germans to withdraw.
Murphy was credited with destroying six tanks in addition to killing over 240 German soldiers. His principal U.S. decorations included the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars with Valor device, and three Purple Hearts.
Army Infantry units still have the "Audie Murphy Board" competition to determine the unit's best Infantryman.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)