Audie Murphy: An American Soldier's Journey to Fame and Glory

Audie Leon Murphy was born on June 20, 1925. He was an accomplished American soldier, actor, and songwriter.

He earned a reputation as one of the most decorated combat soldiers in the United States during World War II, having been awarded all available military combat awards for valor. His heroic acts were also recognized by the French and Belgian authorities.

At the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945, Audie Murphy displayed exceptional valor at the young age of 19, earning him the Medal of Honor.

He remarkably defended his position against a whole company of German soldiers single-handedly for an hour, despite being out of ammunition and wounded. Subsequently, he led a successful counterattack, which added to his already notable feat of bravery.

Early Childhood

During his childhood, Audie Leon Murphy displayed characteristics of an introvert with erratic mood swings and a quick temper. He spent his early years in northeastern Texas, in the vicinity of Farmersville, Greenville, and Celeste, where he attended elementary school.

His father was not always at home, and when h finally abandoned the family, young Murphy was forced to drop out of school in the fifth grade and work as a cotton picker, earning a meager daily wage of one dollar to provide for his family. He also developed sharpshooting skills and hunted small game to help provide sustenance for his loved ones.

Audie Leon Murphy had always wanted to be a soldier, and following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he attempted to enlist in the military.

However, due to being underweight and underage, he was turned down by the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Undeterred, Murphy's sister provided a falsified affidavit stating that he was a year older than he actually was. This allowed him to be accepted by the US Army on June 30, 1942.

How Man, Audie Leon Murphy, Stopped A German Attack

In the vicinity of the French village of Holtzwihr on January 26, 1945, 2nd Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy was commanding company B of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, when they were ambushed by six German tanks and a sizable force of infantry.

To protect his men, Murphy ordered them to retreat to defensive positions in the nearby woods while he held off the enemy's advance and called for artillery support. During the attack, a nearby American tank destroyer was hit by enemy fire and caught fire, but Murphy bravely climbed on top of the burning vehicle, which was at risk of exploding, and utilized its .50 caliber machine gun to engage the enemy.

Despite sustaining a leg injury, he managed to eliminate over 20 German soldiers and successfully defended his position for over an hour. Subsequently, he led his company in a counterattack, which resulted in the death or injury of 50 more German soldiers.

Medals of Valor

At the tender age of 19, on April 23, 1945, Audie Murphy was honored with the Medal of Honor for his incredible actions. Although his remarkable heroism on January 26 was extraordinary, it was not the only instance that distinguished him.

Prior to this feat, he had been awarded over 20 accolades for valor, including two Silver Star medals, two Bronze Star medals, and the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery in Italy and France. Following his receipt of the Medal of Honor, Murphy was widely acclaimed as the most decorated American soldier of World War II, and even graced the cover of Life magazine.

Following the war, Audie Murphy's widespread fame caught the attention of Hollywood. He subsequently embarked on a flourishing career as a country music songwriter and actor, featuring in a total of 44 feature films, including a movie rendition of his memoir, To Hell and Back. Despite achieving stardom and success, the unassuming veteran was never at ease with being in the limelight.

Tragically, on May 28, 1971, at the age of 45, Murphy passed away in a plane crash near Roanoke, Virginia.

References:

Audie Murphy: Most Highly Decorated

Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website