#HonoringVets: Audie Murphy

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Video by Tass Mimikos

Department of Veterans Affairs

July 19, 2020 | 1:57

Audie Leon Murphy was an Army Veteran and one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. Murphy was born in 1925 on a north Texas sharecropper farm and as a child was known for his accuracy with a gun. Murphy’s father left the family and as a child, Murphy dropped out of school in fifth grade picked cotton for a dollar a day. Murphy’s mother died when he was only 16, leaving him and his siblings orphaned. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Murphy was determined to join the military and serve in World War II but was rejected by the Army, Navy and Marine Corps for being underweight and underage. In 1942 he enlisted and was accepted into the Army.
After completing basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas and advanced training at Fort Meade, Maryland, Murphy was deployed overseas during World War II. Murphy first served in Casablanca, Morocco with the 15th Infantry Regiment. Though he first served as a platoon messenger, Murphy was quickly promoted to private first class. Murphy went on to serve in Italy, France and Germany, and eventually rose to the rank of first lieutenant. While in combat, Murphy was wounded three times and fought in nine major campaigns across the European Theater.
As one of the most decorated soldiers of World War II, Murphy received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, as well as awards from France and Belgium. Some of Murphy’s 23 decorations include the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart and Legion of Merit.
Murphy was awarded his first Purple Heart after being wounded in a mortar shell blast on September 15, 1944, in France. He was awarded his first Silver Star after killing four and wounding three Germans stationed at a machine gun position on October 2, 1944, at L'Omet quarry in France’s Cleurie river valley France. Three days later, Murphy crawled towards the Germans at L’Omet quarry by himself while directing his men and enduring German gunfire. His efforts allowed for U.S. forces to capture the quarry and resulted in 15 Germans being killed 35 wounded. These actions earned Murphy a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Silver Star.
The Medal of Honor is the most prestigious military award that can be given U.S. military servicemembers for acts of valor. Murphy received the Medal of Honor for his actions in France in January 1945 at the age of 19. After German forces hit an M10 tank destroyer and set it alight, Murphy, as commander of Company B, ordered his crew to retreat. Murphy remained alone at his post and single-handedly returned fire to German foot soldiers and advancing tanks, killing or wounding 50 Germans. He sustained a leg wound and stopped only after he ran out of ammunition. Murphy rejoined his men, disregarding his injury, and led them back to fight the German forces.
In September 1945, Murphy was discharged from the Army and became an actor and film producer in Hollywood. He acted in 44 films over 21 years. Murphy was also an accomplished songwriter and poet. From 1950 to 1966, Murphy served in the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard.
Murphy died in May 1971 in a private plane crash and was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. For his service, numerous places have been named in Murphy’s
honor including the Audie L. Murphy Veterans Memorial Hospital in Texas, Audie Murphy Memorial in Virginia, Audie Murphy Middle School in Texas, Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum in Texas and Audie Murphy Inn in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
We honor his service. #HonoringVets

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