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Audie Murphy

Surname Murphy Given Name Audie Born 20 Jun 1924 Died 25 May 1971 Country United States Category Military-Ground Gender Male

Contributor: Bryan Hiatt

ww2dbaseAudie Murphy is regarded as one of World War II's most decorated soldiers. Among his 33 citations is the Medal of Honor, awarded for turning back a German attack single-handedly in the face of several Panzer tanks and infantry in France.

ww2dbaseBorn in rural Texas, Murphy had his share of hard times growing up: his father deserted his family (leaving behind ten children) and his mother died when he was sixteen. Murphy "watched as his brothers and sisters were doled out to an orphanage or to relatives."

ww2dbaseIn 1942 at age 17, Murphy tried to join the Marines and the Army paratroops, but was rejected because he was too short. He did gain entrance into the Army, joining the 15th Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division in North Africa prior to the invasion of Sicily. Murphy proved himself a proficient soldier and "quickly rose to the enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant, was given a battlefield commission as 2nd Lieutenant... [and] fought in nine major campaigns across the European Theater."

ww2dbaseMurphy’s actions in January 1945 near the French village of Holtzwihr earned him the Medal of Honor and enduring fame. His citation reads:

"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 machine gun 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."

ww2dbaseAfter the war, Murphy became an actor, and while it took some time and struggle to get established, he eventually made 44 films, among them "To Hell and Back" based on his autobiography published in 1949. Murphy was also an outspoken advocate of veterans later in his life.

"In an effort to draw attention to the problems of returning Korean and Vietnam War veterans, [Murphy] spoke... candidly about his personal problems with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, then known as Battle Fatigue. He publicly called for [the] United States government to give more consideration and study to the emotional impact war has on veterans and to extend health care benefits to address PTSD and other mental health problems of returning war vets."

ww2dbaseMurphy died in a plane crash in 1971. He was 46.

ww2dbaseSources: Arlington National Cemetery, www.audiemurphy.com, Medal of Honor Society.

Last Major Revision: Apr 2005

Audie Murphy Timeline

20 Jun 1924 Audie Murphy was born. 26 Jan 1945 Despite being wounded, US Army 2nd Lieutenant Audie Murphy single-handedly repelled tank and infantry attacks on his unit's position at Colmar, France. The action earned Murphy America's highest award for bravery, the Medal of Honor. Beginning as a private and earning a battlefield commission, he finished the war as his country's most decorated soldier with 33 medals and was personally credited with killing 240 enemies. After the war, the baby-faced hero made a fortune as a B-movie film star before being killed in a plane crash in 1971, aged 46. After President John F Kennedy, his grave was the most visited plot in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, United States. 25 May 1971 Audie Murphy passed away.

Photographs

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