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Murphy's successful movie career included '']'' (1955), based on his book of the same title (1949).<ref name="Taffin"/><ref>{{Cite book |title=To Hell and Back |last=Murphy |first=Audie |year=1949 |publisher=Henry Holt and Co. |location=New York |oclc=2037656 |accessdate=19-June-2010}}</ref> He died in a plane crash in 1971 and was interred, with full military honors, in ].<ref name="Taffin"/><ref name=ANC>"Historical Information - Audie Murphy" (bio), Arlington National Cemetery, webpage:</ref><ref></ref> Murphy's successful movie career included '']'' (1955), based on his book of the same title (1949).<ref name="Taffin"/><ref>{{Cite book |title=To Hell and Back |last=Murphy |first=Audie |year=1949 |publisher=Henry Holt and Co. |location=New York |oclc=2037656 |accessdate=19-June-2010}}</ref> He died in a plane crash in 1971 and was interred, with full military honors, in ].<ref name="Taffin"/><ref name=ANC>"Historical Information - Audie Murphy" (bio), Arlington National Cemetery, webpage:</ref><ref></ref>


hi jo
==Biography==
===Early life===
Murphy was born in Kingston, ],<ref name=imdb/><ref name=EJbio>"Audie Murphy" (bio), E. J. Addington, WhenMagazine, webpage:
</ref> to Emmett Berry Murphy and Josie Bell Killian who was of ],<ref name=EJbio/><ref name=HTO></ref> poor ]s,<ref name=ammem/><ref name=EJbio/> and grew up on farms between Farmersville and Greenville, as well as near ].<ref name=imdb/> Murphy was the sixth of twelve children,<ref name=EJbio/><ref name=HTO/> two of whom died prior to reaching adulthood.<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=EJbio/> The Murphy children included, in order: Corinne, Charles Emmett "Buck", Vernon, June, Oneta, Audie Leon, J.W., Richard, Eugene, Nadine, Billie, and Joseph Murphy. He attended elementary school in Celeste until the fifth grade,<ref name=EJbio/> at which he dropped out to help support his family after his father abandoned them in 1936. He worked for one dollar per day, plowing and picking cotton on any farm that would hire him.<ref name=EJbio/> He became very skilled with a ], hunting small game to help feed the family.<ref name=AMEDD/> One of his favorite hunting companions was neighbor Dial Henley. When he commented that Murphy never missed when he shot at squirrels, rabbits, and birds, Murphy replied, "Well, Dial, if I don't hit what I shoot at, my family won't eat today."<ref>Stephen L. Henley, Sr., J.D.</ref> During the late 1930s, Murphy worked at a combination general store/garage and gas station in ].<ref name=imdb/><ref name=EJbio/> At fifteen he was working in a radio repair shop, and his mother died on May 23, 1941.<ref name=imdb/><ref name=EJbio/> Later that year, in agreement with his older sister, Corrinne, Murphy placed his three youngest siblings in an orphanage<ref name=EJbio/> to ensure their care (he reclaimed them after World War II).

====Enlistment====
After the ] on December 7, 1941, Murphy tried to enlist in the military, but the services rejected him for being under age.<ref name=ANC/> In June 1942, shortly after his 17th birthday, his sister Corrine adjusted his birth date so he appeared to be 18 and legally allowed to enlist, and his war memoirs, ''To Hell and Back'', maintained this misinformation, leading to later confusion and contradictory statements as to his year of birth.<ref name=AMRF5>{{Cite web |url=http://www.audiemurphy.com/newsletter_pdf/amrf_news5.pdf |title=Audie Murphy Research Foundation, Vol. 5 |format=PDF |year=1998 |accessdate=March 28, 2010}}</ref> Murphy was accepted into the ],<ref name=ANC/> at Greenville,<ref name=HTO/> after being turned down by the ] and the Army ]s for being too short ({{convert|5|ft|5.5|in|cm}})<ref name=imdb/> and of slight build. He was also turned down by the ] for being slight of build.<ref name=ammem/><ref name=ANC/> He was sent to ], ], for basic training<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=HTO/> and during a session of close order drill, passed out. His company commander tried to have him transferred to a cook and bakers' school<ref name=EJbio/> because of his baby-faced youthfulness,<ref name=ANC/> but Murphy insisted on becoming a combat soldier. His wish was granted: after 13 weeks of basic training,<ref name=EJbio/> he was sent to ] for advanced infantry training.<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=HTO/>

====Battles====
Murphy still had to "fight the system" to get overseas and into action. His persistence paid off, and in early 1943 he was shipped out to ] as a replacement in Company B, 1st Battalion, ], ].<ref name=ANC/> Murphy saw no action in Africa, but instead participated in extensive training maneuvers along with the rest of the 3rd Division. His combat initiation finally came when he took part in the invasion of ] on July 10, 1943.<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=ANC/> Shortly after arriving, Murphy was promoted to corporal<ref name=AMEDD/> after killing two Italian officers as they tried to escape on horseback. He contracted ]<ref name=imdb/><ref name=EJbio/> while in Sicily, an illness which put him in the hospital several times during his Army years.<ref name=EJbio/>

After Sicily was secured from Axis forces, the 3rd Division invaded the Italian mainland, landing near ]<ref name=AMEDD/> in September 1943.<ref name=ANC/> While leading a night patrol, Murphy and his men ran into German soldiers but fought their way out of an ambush, taking cover in a rock quarry.<ref name=AMEDD/> The German command sent a squad of soldiers in, but they were stopped by intense ] and rifle fire.<ref name=AMEDD/> Three German soldiers were killed and several others captured.<ref name=AMEDD/> As a result of his actions at Salerno, Murphy was promoted to sergeant.<ref name=AMEDD/>

Murphy distinguished himself in action on many occasions while in Italy, fighting at the ],<ref name=ANC/> at the ] beachhead,<ref name=ANC/> and in the cold, wet Italian mountains. While in Italy, his skills as a combat infantryman earned him promotions and decorations for valor.<ref name=ANC/>

Following its participation in the Italian campaign, the 3rd Division landed in ]<ref name=ANC/> on August 15, 1944 as part of ].<ref name=ANC/> Shortly thereafter, Murphy's best friend, Lattie Tipton (referred to as "Brandon" in Murphy's book ''To Hell and Back''), was killed by a German soldier in a machine gun nest who was feigning surrender.<ref name=AMEDD/> Murphy went into a rage,<ref name=AMEDD/> and single-handedly wiped out the German machine gun crew which had just killed his friend.<ref name=AMEDD/> He then used the German machine gun and grenades to destroy several other nearby enemy positions.<ref name=AMEDD/> For this act, Murphy received the ]<ref name=AMEDD/> (second only to the Medal of Honor).

During seven weeks of fighting in that campaign in France, Murphy's division suffered 4,500 casualties.<ref name=ANC/> Just weeks later, he received two ]s for further heroic actions.<ref name=AMEDD/> Murphy, by now a staff sergeant and holding the position of Platoon Sergeant, was eventually awarded a battlefield commission to second lieutenant, which elevated him to the Platoon Leader position.<ref name=AMEDD/> He was wounded in the hip by a sniper's ricocheting bullet 12 days after the promotion<ref name=AMEDD/> and spent ten weeks recuperating.<ref name=AMEDD/> Within days of returning to his unit, and still bandaged, he became company commander (January 25, 1945), and suffered further wounds from a mortar round which killed two others nearby.

The next day, January 26 (the temperature was {{convert|14|°F|°C}} with {{convert|24|in|cm}} of snow on the ground), the battle at ] (France) began<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=ANC/> with Murphy's unit at an effective strength of 19 out of 128. Murphy sent all of his men to the rear<ref name=ANC/> while he took pot-shots at the Germans until out of ammunition. He then proceeded to use an abandoned, burning ]'s ]<ref name=AMEDD/> to cut into the German infantry at a distance,<ref name=ANC/> including one full squad of German infantry that had crawled in a ditch to within 100 feet of his position. Wounded in the leg during heavy fire,<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=ANC/> he continued this nearly single-handed battle for almost an hour.<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=ANC/> His focus on the battle before him stopped only when his telephone line to the artillery fire direction center was cut by either U.S. or German artillery. As his remaining men came forward, he quickly organized them to conduct a counter attack,<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=ANC/> which ultimately drove the enemy away from Holtzwihr.<ref name=ANC/> For these actions Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor.<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=ANC/>

Murphy was then removed from the front lines and made a liaison officer; he was promoted to 1st lieutenant on February 22, 1945. On June 2, 1945, Lt. Gen. ], commander of the US Seventh Army, presented him with the Medal of Honor and ]. The Legion of Merit was awarded for meritorious service with the 3rd Infantry Division during January 22, 1944 to February 18, 1945. On June 10, Murphy left Paris by plane, arriving in ] four days later.

Audie Murphy received 33 US medals, plus five medals from France and one from Belgium.<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=ANC/> It has been said that he received every US medal available at the time; 5 of them awarded more than once.

His height and weight at his enlistment were {{convert|5|ft|5.5|in|cm}} and {{convert|110|lb|kg}}; after his three year enlistment, he was {{convert|5|ft|7|in|cm}} and {{convert|145|lb|kg}}.

====Medal of Honor citation====
The official U.S. Army citation for Audie Murphy's Medal of Honor reads:<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=AMWhonor>"Audie Murphy's Medal of Honor" (letter/photo), Audie Murphy Memorial Web Site, webpage:
</ref>

:'''''Rank and organization:''' Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division.
:'''''Place and date:''' Near Holtzwihr France, January 26, 1945.
:'''''Entered service at:''' Dallas, Texas. Birth: Hunt County, near Kingston, Texas, G.O. No. 65, August 9, 1944.
:'''''Citation:''' Second Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which 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 and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, one 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 three 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 that 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 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. 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.''<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=AMWhonor/>

====Awards and honors====
]'' for July 16, 1945, got him seen in ].]]

Audie Murphy was credited with destroying six tanks in addition to killing over 240 German soldiers and wounding and capturing many others.<ref name=ANC/> His principal U.S. decorations included the Medal of Honor, ], two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, two ]s with Valor device, and three ]s. Murphy participated in campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany, as denoted by his ] with one silver battle star (denoting five campaigns), four bronze battle stars, plus a bronze arrowhead representing his two amphibious assault landings at Sicily and southern France. During the French Campaign, Murphy was awarded two Presidential Citations, one from the 3rd Inf, Division, and one from the 15th Inf. Regiment during the Holtzwihr action.

The French government awarded Murphy its highest award, the ] (Grade of Chevalier).<ref name=AMmedal>"Audie Murphy's Military Award List" (list of all medals), Audie Murphy Memorial Web Site, webpage:
</ref>
He also received two '']'' medals from France<ref name=AMmedal/> and the ''Croix de guerre 1940 Palm'' from Belgium.<ref name=AMmedal/> In addition, Murphy was awarded the ]. (A complete list of his awards and decorations appears later in this article.) He spent 29 months overseas and just under two years in combat with the 3rd Infantry Division, all before he turned 21.<ref name=ANC/>

In early June 1945, one month after Germany's surrender, he returned from Europe to a hero's welcome in his home state of Texas,<ref name=ANC/> where he was feted with parades, banquets, and speeches. Murphy was discharged from active duty with the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant, at ] in San Antonio, Texas on August 17, 1945,<ref name=HTO/> and discharged from the U.S. Army on September 21, 1945.<ref name=AMEDD/><ref name=ANC/>

Murphy garnered nationwide recognition, appearing on the cover of '']'' magazine for July 16, 1945 (''see image to your left''). After the ] broke out in June 1950, Murphy joined the ] of the ]; however, that division was not called up for combat duty. By the time he left the Guard in 1966, Murphy had attained the rank of ].

The medals and awards of Audie Murphy are on display at the ] (500 South Harwood Street, Dallas, TX 75201) and the China Room of the ] (], ], Georgia).

====Promotions====
{| class="wikitable"
! Insignia !! Rank !! Date
|-
|]||MAJ||--
|-
|]||CPT||--
|-
|]||1LT||February 1945
|-
|]||2LT||Fall 1944
|}

====List of Decorations====
{|
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg |width=60}}
|]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon-3d.svg|width=60}}
|] (with ])
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|] (with ] and ])
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart BAR.svg|width=60}}
|] (with two ]s)
|-
|]
|]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Good Conduct ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|] (with ])
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=oak|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|] (with one ] & four ], representing nine campaigns, and one ], representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France)
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|] (with ])
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=ResMedRib.svg|width=60}}
|]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg |width=60}}
|] - ]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Ruban de la croix de guerre 1939-1945.PNG|width=60}}
|] (with Silver Star)
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with palm.jpg |width=60}}
|] (with Palm)
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=French Liberation Medal ribbon.png |width=60}}
|]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=BEL Croix de Guerre 1944 ribbon.svg |width=60}}
|] (with 1940 Palm)
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Fourragère CG TOE.jpg|width=60}}
|] in Colors of the ]
|-
|}

Additionally, Audie Murphy was awarded:
*|]&nbsp;&nbsp; ]
*] with Rifle Component Bar
*] with Bayonet Component Bar

====Post war illness====
Murphy was reportedly plagued by insomnia, bouts of depression, and ]s related to his numerous battles.<ref name=imdb/> His first wife, ], often talked of his struggle with this condition, even claiming that he had held her at gunpoint once. For a time during the mid-1960s, he became dependent on doctor-prescribed sleeping pills called ].<ref name=imdb/> When he recognized that he had become addicted to the drug, he locked himself in a motel room where he took himself off the pills, going through withdrawal for a week.<ref name=imdb/>

Always an advocate of the needs of America's military veterans, Murphy eventually broke the taboo about publicly discussing war-related mental conditions. In an effort to draw attention to the problems of returning Korean and ] veterans, Murphy spoke out candidly about his own problems with PTSD, known then and during World War II as "]".<ref name=imdb/> He called on the United States government to give increased consideration and study to the emotional impact that combat experiences have on veterans, and to extend health care benefits to address PTSD and other mental-health problems suffered by returning war veterans.<ref name=imdb/>

===Personal life===
Murphy married actress Wanda Hendrix in 1949;<ref name=imdb/> they were divorced in 1951. He then married former airline stewardess Pamela Archer, by whom he had two children: Terrance Michael "Terry" Murphy (born 1952) and James Shannon "Skipper" Murphy (born 1954). They were named for two of his most respected friends, Terry Hunt and James "Skipper" Cherry, respectively. Audie became a successful actor, rancher, and businessman,<ref name=ANC/> breeding and raising ]s. He owned ranches in Texas, ] and ].<ref name=ammem/><ref>NC Times February 19, 2009 (http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2009/02/18/news/californian/menifee/zcd444e20ece9603c8825755c00804b77.txt)</ref>

===Movie career===
After seeing the young hero's photo on the cover of the July 16 edition of ''Life Magazine'' and sensing star potential,<ref name=imdb/> actor ] invited Murphy to Hollywood in September 1945. Despite Cagney's expectations, the next few years in California were difficult for Murphy. He became disillusioned by the lack of work, was frequently broke, and slept on the floor of a gymnasium owned by his friend Terry Hunt. He eventually received token acting parts in the 1948 films ''Beyond Glory'' and ''Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven''.<ref name=imdb/><ref name=ANC/> His third movie, '']'', gave him his first leading role.<ref name=ammem/>

He also starred in the 1951 adaptation of ]'s ] novel, '']'', which earned critical success.<ref name=ANC/> Murphy expressed great discomfort in playing himself in ''To Hell and Back.'' In 1959, he starred in the western '']'', in which his performance was well-received despite being cast as the villain, a professional killer who managed to stay within the law.<ref name=imdb/>

====First starring role====
After returning home from World War II, Murphy bought a house in ] for his oldest sister Corinne, her husband Poland Burns, and their three children. The idea was that Audie's three youngest siblings, Nadine, Billie, and Joe, who had been living in an orphanage since Murphy's mother's death, would also be able to live with Corinne and Poland and would become part of a family again. Unfortunately, six children under one roof created too much stress on everyone, particularly Nadine and Joe, so Murphy picked them up.

Joe and Nadine wanted to stay with him, but despite a lot of post-war publicity, his acting career had gone nowhere and he was finding it difficult to survive financially. The oldest Murphy brother, Buck, and his wife agreed to take Nadine, but Murphy didn't know what to do with Joe. He approached James "Skipper" Cherry, a Dallas theater owner who was involved with the Variety Clubs International Boy's Ranch, a 4,800 acre (19&nbsp;km²) ranch near ] who arranged for the Boy's Ranch to take Joe in. He loved it there and Murphy was able to visit him, as well as Cherry, frequently. In a 1973 interview, Cherry recalled, "He was discouraged and somewhat despondent concerning his movie career."

Variety Clubs was financing a film to be called ''Bad Boy'' to help promote the organization's work with troubled children and Cherry called Texas theater executive Paul Short, who was producing the film, to suggest that they considered giving Murphy a significant role in the movie. He looked good in the screen test, but the president of ] did not want to cast someone with so little acting experience in a major role.

By this time, Cherry, Short, and the other Texas theater owners had decided that Audie Murphy was going to play the lead or they weren't financing the film. Their money talked and he was cast, turning in such a fine performance that the Hollywood powers that be finally recognized his talent. As a direct result of the film, ] signed Murphy to his first seven-year studio contract. After a few box-office hits there, the studio bosses gave Audie latitude in choosing his roles, as long as plenty of action was included in the scenarios.

====Autobiography====
Murphy's 1949 autobiography ''To Hell and Back'' became a national bestseller. In the book, actually ghostwritten by his friend David "Spec" McClure, already a professional writer<ref>"Audie Murphy: Great American Hero", '']'', ] for ], 1996 (TV documentary).</ref> Murphy modestly described some of his most heroic actions — without portraying himself as a hero. Not once does he mention any of the many decorations he received for his incredible combat exploits. Instead, he chose to praise the skills, bravery, and dedication of the other soldiers in his platoon. Murphy even attributed a song he had written to "Kerrigan".<ref>], ''The Films and Career of Audie Murphy'', ], N.C., 1996, p. 183 (Gossett incorrectly says "Johnson", but it is Kerrigan, per pp. 123-124 of the 1983 ] edition).</ref>

Murphy played himself in the 1955 film version of his book with the same title, '']''.<ref name=imdb/>

In an actual war, while a unit may participate in numerous battles, the actual personnel changes, as men are killed, injured, or rotated out of the line. In "To Hell and Back" the Hollywood pattern is broken and the characters suffer death and injury as they did in real life, until by the end of the film only Murphy is left of the original members of his unit. In the climactic scene, Murphy stands at attention while the ghostly images of his dead friends pass before his mind. This insistence on reality has often been attributed to Murphy and his desire to honor his fallen friends. {{citation needed|date=February 2010}}

The film grossed almost ten million dollars during its initial theatrical release, and at the time became Universal Studios's biggest hit of the studio's 43-year history. This movie held the record as the company's highest-grossing motion picture until 1975, when it was surpassed by ]'s '']''.<ref name=imdb/> Terry Murphy, who played younger brother Joe Preston Murphy (at age four), is in fact Murphy's older son. {{citation needed|date=February 2010}} Audie was reluctant to star in ''To Hell and Back'', fearing it would appear he was cashing in on his war experience, so he suggested his role be played by ]. The film was introduced by General ], United States Army, Retired. During World War II, Smith had served as Chief of Staff to General ].

Harold B. Simpson's 1975 comprehensive biography, ''Audie Murphy, American Soldier'', covers the breadth of Murphy's life. The book emphasizes his military exploits, and includes photos, maps, and battle-maneuver diagrams. Murphy's post-war career is also well-documented.

====Filmography====
{{Main|Audie Murphy legacy#Films made}}
In the 25 years he spent in Hollywood, Audie Murphy made 44 feature films, 33 of them Westerns.<ref name=imdb/> His highest grossing film was the autobiographical ''To Hell and Back'', which was the highest grossing film for ], until ''Jaws'' in 1975.<ref name=imdb/><ref name=ammem/> {{Verify credibility|date=June 2009}} His films earned him close to $3 million in his 23 years as an actor.<ref name=ammem/> {{Verify credibility|date=June 2009}} He also appeared in several television shows, including the ] in the short-lived 1961 ] ] ] series '']'', set in ].<ref name=imdb/> For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Audie Murphy has a star on the ] at 1601 Vine Street.

===Music career===
In addition to acting, Murphy also became successful as a country music songwriter.<ref name=imdb/> teaming up with such talented musicians and composers as ], ], Scott Turner, Coy Ziegler, and Terri Eddleman. Murphy's songs were recorded and released by such performers as ],<ref name=imdb/> ],<ref name=imdb/> ],<ref name=imdb/> Jimmy Bryant, ], ], ], and ]. His two biggest hits were "Shutters and Boards" and "When the Wind Blows in Chicago".

===Death===
]

Murphy spent his last months seeking to procure the release of his friend, ] president ], from federal prison on conviction in 1964 of ]. He attempted to persuade ] of ], the Teamsters business agent who had provided immunized testimony against Hoffa, to recant Partin's earlier claims.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.audiemurphy.com/newsclip/dmn_01-25-74.pdf|title=Earl Golz, "Audie Murphy struggled to free Hoffa"|publisher='']'', January 25, 1974|accessdate=May 7, 2010}}</ref>

Shortly after noon on May 28, 1971,<ref name=imdb/><ref name=ANC/> during ] weekend, Murphy was killed when his private plane crashed into Brush Mountain, near ], 20 miles west of ].<ref name=ANC/> The pilot and four other passengers were also killed.<ref name=imdb/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/Audie-Murphy-N601JJ.htm|title=Check-Six.com - "Audie Murphy's Aero Commander|accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref> In 1974, a large ] was erected near the crash site. A close friend, Captain Carl Swickerath (who is now buried directly in front of Murphy), represented the Murphy family at the dedication.

]

On June 7, 1971, Murphy was buried at ] with a full-honors ceremony.<ref name=imdb/><ref name=ANC/> The official U.S. representative at the ceremony was the decorated World War II veteran and future President ]. Murphy's gravesite is in Section 46, located across Memorial Drive from the Amphitheater.<ref name=ANC/> A special flagstone walkway was later constructed to accommodate the large number of people who visit to pay their respects.<ref name=ANC/> It is the second most-visited gravesite, after that of President ].<ref name=ANC/>

The headstones of Arlington's Medal of Honor recipients are normally decorated in gold leaf, but Murphy had requested that his stone remain plain and inconspicuous,<ref name=ANC/> as would be the case with an ordinary soldier. An unknown person maintains a small American flag next to his engraved Government-issue headstone, which reads as follows:

:: ''Audie L. Murphy, Texas. Major, Infantry, World War II. June 20, 1924 to May 28, 1971. Medal of Honor, DSC, SS & OLC, LM, BSM & OLC, PH & two OLC''.

(Key to abbreviations:
DSC = Distinguished Service Cross;
SS = Silver Star;
LM = Legion of Merit;
BSM = Bronze Star Medal;
PH = Purple Heart;
OLC = Oak Leaf Cluster.)
An Oak Leaf Cluster signifies a subsequent award of the same decoration. First Lieutenant Audie Murphy was one of very few company-grade officers ever to be awarded the Legion of Merit. That decoration is usually awarded only to officers of the rank of lieutenant colonel and above. At his funeral, a friend noted "''Like the man, the headstone is too small''."


==Other honors== ==Other honors==

Revision as of 16:16, 4 November 2010

See also: Audie Murphy legacy
Audie L. Murphy
  
Place of burialArlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States United States
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1942–1945 (US Army)
1950–1966 (Texas National Guard)
RankFirst Lieutenant (USA)
Major (TNG)
Unit 15th Infantry Regiment,
3rd Infantry Division (USA)
36th Infantry Division (TNG)
Battles / warsWorld War II: Sicily (July 1943), Salerno, Anzio, Rome, France: Operation Anvil-Dragoon (August 1944), Holtzwihr (January 1945)
Awards Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star (2)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star (2)
Purple Heart (3)
French Legion of Honor
French Croix de guerre (+ Palm)
Belgian Croix de guerre 1940 Palm
Other workActor, Songwriter, Horseracing, Oil

Audie Leon Murphy (June 20, 1924 – May 28, 1971) was the most decorated American soldier of World War II and a celebrated movie star for over two decades in the post-war era, appearing in 44 films. He also found some success as a country music composer.

Murphy became the most decorated United States soldier of the war during twenty-seven months in action in the European Theatre. He received the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military's highest award for valor, along with 32 additional U.S. and foreign medals and citations, including five from France and one from Belgium.

Murphy's successful movie career included To Hell and Back (1955), based on his book of the same title (1949). He died in a plane crash in 1971 and was interred, with full military honors, in Arlington National Cemetery.

hi jo

Other honors

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  • The Audie Murphy Patriotism Award is named in honor of Murphy. The award is presented annually to an "outstanding American patriot" or "an outstanding group of individuals who most exemplify the true ‘Spirit of America.’"
  • On November 17, 1973, the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio, Texas was dedicated. There is a one-ton bronze, eight-foot-tall statue of Murphy, created by sculptress Jimilu Mason. He is dressed in battle fatigues holding a rifle with bayonet; inside the hospital, a museum depicts his life and contains items including his uniform, other clothing, books and pictures.
  • In early 1986, the U.S. Army established the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club at Fort Hood, Texas. This elite membership group recognizes noncommissioned officers (sergeants) who have displayed the integrity, professionalism, commitment to mentoring subordinate soldiers, leadership abilities and personal ethics exemplified by Audie L. Murphy. In 1994, the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club spread Army-wide, to all commands with installations retaining the selection process for their own NCOs.
  • In 1999, then-Governor George W. Bush also issued a proclamation declaring June 20 to officially be "Audie Murphy Day" in the State of Texas.
  • From the mid-1990s through the present, an annual celebration of Audie and other veterans in all branches of service has been held on the weekend closest to Murphy's birthday at the American Cotton Museum (recently renamed the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum) in Greenville and in Farmersville. The museum houses a large collection of Audie Murphy memorabilia and personal items.
  • In 2000, Audie Murphy was honored with his portrait on a thirty-three cent United States postage stamp. There is also an Audie Murphy Middle School in Fort Hood, Texas, named in his honor.
  • On 23 August 2010, the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District in South Texas dedicated and opened its newest middle school, Audie Murphy Middle School, in his honor.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Sergeant Audie Murphy Club - SMA/Autreve Chapter" (bio), U.S. Army Medical Department Center & School Portal, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. USArmy-SAMC
  2. ^ "Biography for Audie Murphy" at IMDb indicates he was born in 1924.
  3. Obituary Variety, June 2, 1971, page 55.
  4. ^ Taffin, John.(2003) "Don't You Ever Forget Audie Murphy". Guns Magazine.40(2).February 2003
  5. "Biographical Sketch of AUDIE LEON MURPHY, June 20, 1926? - May 28, 1971". Audie Murphy Memorial Website. 2006-08-20.
  6. ^ "Historical Information - Audie Murphy" (bio), Arlington National Cemetery, webpage:ANC-AMurphy
  7. Murphy, Audie (1949). To Hell and Back. New York: Henry Holt and Co. OCLC 2037656. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. USArmy-SAMC
  9. "US Army - Sergeant Audie Murphy Club". Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  10. "Eminent U.S. Warriors Will Grace New Stamps". LA Times. April 20, 2000. Retrieved 2009-01-07.

References

  • Gossett, Sue. The Films and Career of Audie Murphy, N.C., Empire Publishing, 1996.
  • Graham, Don. No Name on the Bullet, N.Y.: Viking, 1989.
  • Murphy, Audie. To Hell and Back, N.Y.: Holt, 1949.
  • Editors, Super GI, Life Magazine-World War II-Special Issue,Vol 8, number 6, Spring-Summer 1985, 28.
  • Whiting, Charles. American Hero Eskdale Publishing, 2000 ISBN 0-7505-1908-8

External links

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