5' 5" & 110 lbs

[VaBeachGuy 12]

 

Audie Murphy has always been a personal hero of mine. His story is one of courage, honor and duty. He was one of my reasons for joining the Army in 1988 and with the 4th of July coming up I wanted to highlight a small part of his life.

 

He wanted to join the Marines but they told him he was too short, when the Navy rejected him he had to settle with just being an Infantry soldier also known as a "Grunt". Even his own unit commander thought he was too small to be an effective soldier. So what did Audie Murphy do about it? He went and became America's greatest World War II hero, at one point single-handedly holding off 250 German soldiers and six tanks. The list of medals he earned is quite impressive. The story of how he won the Congressional Medal Of Honor is even more impressive. When they made a movie about his life, "To Hell And Back" they actually downplayed the events that took place for which he was awarded America's highest Military award. Read the citation below and if you ever have the chance, watch "To Hell And Back". Audie Murphy plays himself in the movie.

 

 

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B 1 5th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Holtzwihr France, 26 January 1945.

Entered service at: Dallas, Tex.

Birth: Hunt County, near Kingston, Tex.

G.O. No.. 65, 9 August 1945.

Citation

 

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 machinegun 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.

 

 

Below is the list of medals Audie Murphy was awarded.

 

• Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm
   
  
• Medal of Liberated France
   
  
• French Croix de Guerre with Palm
   
  
• French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star
   
  
• French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier
   
  
• French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre
   
  
• Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar
   
  
• Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar
   
  
• Combat Infantry Badge
   
  
• Armed Forces Reserve Medal
   
  
• Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp
   
  
• World War II Victory Medal
   
  
• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France)
   
  
• American Campaign Medal
   
  
• Distinguished Unit Emblem with First Oak Leaf Cluster
   
  
• Good Conduct Medal
   
  
• U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal
   
  
• Purple Heart with Second Oak Leaf Cluster
   
  
• Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device and First Oak Leaf Cluster
   
  
• Legion of Merit
   
  
• Silver Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster
   
  
• Distinguished Service Cross
   
  
• Medal of Honor
  

 

 

 

 

[Theunicornhunter 2]

Very powerful example VBG, thanks for posting that

[TrekkieMage 0]

Wow! That is just an amazing story...I'm going to have to go rent that movie now :)

[Yillara Skye 1]

Wow! What a great story thanks for sharing!

[Lollypop 0]

I remember getting some old cowboy films out where he plays the leading man. He was very soft spoken. :)

[Xeroc 0]

Wow! That is quite amazing!

[Goose 0]

Stardate:213493.5

 

Indeed truly amazing.One man holding off all those German soldiers and tanks.WOW!!

[VaBeachGuy 12]

The Medal Of Honor citation is what he is best known for but read some of the other citations he was awarded, they are just as incredible. Audie Murphy wasn't a "1 time hero" on one day during 1 battle. This kind of action was "normal" for him. This man was a true hero, and look back at that first picture at the top of this page. He barely even looks 15 years old.

 

For his Distinguished Service Cross:

 

 

II  -  AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED-SERVICE CROSS. 

By direction of the President, under the provisions of Army Regulation 600-45, 22 September 1943, as amended, the Distinguished-Service Cross is awarded by the Army Commander to the following named individuals:

 

      AUDIE L. MURPHY, 01 692 509, Second Lieutenant, (then Staff Sergeant), Infantry, Company "B", 15th Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action. Landing near Ramatuelle, France, with the first wave of the assault infantry, at 0800 hours, 15 August until halted by intense machine gun and small arms fire from a boulder-covered hill to his front. Leaving his men in a covered position, he dashed forty yards through withering fire to a draw. Using this defiladed route, he went back toward the beaches, found a light machine gun squad and, returning up the rocky hill, placed the machine gun in position seventy-five yards in advance of his platoon. In the duel which ensued, Lieutenant Murphy silenced the enemy weapon, killed two of the crew and wounded a third. As he proceeded further up the draw, two Germans advanced toward him. Quickly destroying both of them, he dashed up the draw alone toward the enemy strongpoint, disregarding bullets which glanced off the rocks around him and hand grenades which exploded fifteen yards away. Closing in, he wounded two Germans with carbine fire, killed two more in a fierce, brief fire-fight, and forced the remaining five to surrender. His extraordinary heroism resulted in the capture of a fiercely contested enemy-held hill and the annihilation or capture of the entire enemy garrison. Entered military service from Farmersville, Texas.

 

 

For his 2 Silver Stars:

 

 

I - AWARD THE SILVER STAR. Under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, as amended, a Silver Star is awarded each of the following named individuals:

 

AUDIE L. MURPHY, 01 692 509, First Lieutenant (then Staff Sergeant), Infantry, Company "B", 15th Infantry Regiment. For gallantry in action. On the morning of 2 October 1944, near CLEURIE QUARRY, France, First Lieutenant MURPHY inched his way over rugged, uneven terrain, toward an enemy machine gun which had surprised a group of officers on reconnaissance. Getting to within fifteen yards of the German gun, First Lieutenant MURPHY stood up and, disregarding a burst of enemy fire delivered at such close range and which miraculously missed him, flung two hand grenandes into the machine gun position, killing four Germans, wounding three more and destroying the position. Residence: Farmersville, Texas.

 

II - AWARD OF 1ST OAK LEAF CLUSTER TO THE SILVER STAR. Under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, as amended, a 1st Oak Leaf Cluster to the Silver Star previously awarded, is awarded each of the following named individuals:

 

AUDIE L. MURPHY, 01 692 509, First Lieutenant (then Staff Sergeant), Infantry, Company "B", 15th Infantry Regiment. For gallantry in action. On the afternoon of 5 October 1944 near LE THOLY, France, First Lieutenant MURPHY, carrying an SCR 536 radio, crawled fifty yards under severe enemy machine gun and rifle fire, to a point 200 yards from strongly entrenched enemy who had prevented further advance. Despite machine gun and rifle bullets that hit as close as a foot to him, First Lieutenant MURPHY directed artillery fire upon enemy positions for an hour, killing fifteen Germans and inflicting approximately thirty-five additional casualties. His courage, audacity and accuracy enabled his company to advance and attain its objective. Residence: Greenville, Texas.

 

For his Bronze Stars:

 

 

I - AWARD OF BRONZE STAR MEDAL. Under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, as amended, a Bronze Star Medal is awarded each of the following named individuals:

 

 

  AUDIE L. MURPHY, 01 692 509, First Lieutenant (then Staff Sergeant), Infantry, Company "B", 15th Infantry Regiment. For valorous conduct in action against the enemy on 2 March 1944 on the Anzio Beachhead, in Italy. Residence: Greenville, Texas.

 

Audie L. Murphy, 01 692 509, First Lieutenant (then Staff Sergeant), Infantry, Company "B", 15th Infantry Regiment. For valorous conduct in action against the enemy. On the night of 2 March 1944, on the ANZIO BEACHHEAD in Italy, First Lieutenant MURPHY crept 100 yards over flat, open terrain during a fire fight between his small patrol and a group of Germans, to a point 50 yards from a partly disabled enemy tank. Taking careful aim, he fired several rifle grenades at the tank, hitting and completely destroying it. Then, when a great many enemy machine guns in the sector opened up, he led his men through bullet swept area to safety. Residence: Greenville, Texas.

 

TO: Captain Audie L. Murphy, NGUS

 

      1. By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order 9419, 4 February 1944, (Sec. II, WD Bul. 3, 1944), you have been awarded the Bronze Star Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy while assigned to the 15th Infantry Regiment, on or about 8 May 1944, as Staff Sergeant, European Theater of Operations.

 

      2. Authority for this award is contained in paragraph 18, AR 600-45, and Special Orders Number 39, Headquarters, 15th Infantry Regiment, dated 8 May 1944, which awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

 

 

[Chataeya 0]

:) SEE YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR US LITTLE PEOPLE. I'M 5'5' MYSELF. :(

[VaBeachGuy 12]

Just bumping this up because "To Hell and Back" is on AMC right now.

[KayTroi 0]

I enjoyed this story. Now I will have to rent or buy this movie.

 

I remember the title but I don't remember any of the content.

 

Great job VBG.

 

take a :blink: you have done a great job .

[deagletime 1]

talk about one tough cookie... and to think people probably always assumed he was the runt of the litter...his reheroics are schwartzennegger-esk to say the least

[edmcgon 0]

I am impressed. :huh:

[VaBeachGuy 12]

I am impressed.  :huh:

He was a very impressive soldier that's for sure. I just wish they (Hollywood) would remake this movie, but do it in the style they used to do movies. Star packed, not just one main star and then a bunch of no names. It could make Saving Private Ryan look like a bedtime story.

[VaBeachGuy 12]

 

Audie Murphy has always been a personal hero of mine. His story is one of courage, honor and duty. He was one of my reasons for joining the Army in 1988 and with the 4th of July coming up I wanted to highlight a small part of his life.

 

He wanted to join the Marines but they told him he was too short, when the Navy rejected him he had to settle with just being an Infantry soldier also known as a "Grunt". Even his own unit commander thought he was too small to be an effective soldier. So what did Audie Murphy do about it? He went and became America's greatest World War II hero, at one point single-handedly holding off 250 German soldiers and six tanks. The list of medals he earned is quite impressive. The story of how he won the Congressional Medal Of Honor is even more impressive. When they made a movie about his life, "To Hell And Back" they actually downplayed the events that took place for which he was awarded America's highest Military award. Read the citation below and if you ever have the chance, watch "To Hell And Back". Audie Murphy plays himself in the movie.

 

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B 1 5th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Holtzwihr France, 26 January 1945.

Entered service at: Dallas, Tex.

Birth: Hunt County, near Kingston, Tex.

G.O. No.. 65, 9 August 1945.

Citation

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 machinegun 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.

 

 

Below is the list of medals Audie Murphy was awarded.

 

 
 
 

• Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm
   
   
   
   
  
• Medal of Liberated France
   
   
   
   
  
• French Croix de Guerre with Palm
   
   
   
   
  
• French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star
   
   
   
   
  
• French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier
   
   
   
   
  
• French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre
   
   
   
   
  
• Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar
   
   
   
   
  
• Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar
   
   
   
   
  
• Combat Infantry Badge
   
   
   
   
  
• Armed Forces Reserve Medal
   
   
   
   
  
• Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp
   
   
   
   
  
• World War II Victory Medal
   
   
   
   
  
• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France)
   
   
   
   
  
• American Campaign Medal
   
   
   
   
  
• Distinguished Unit Emblem with First Oak Leaf Cluster
   
   
   
   
  
• Good Conduct Medal
   
   
   
   
  
• U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal
   
   
   
   
  
• Purple Heart with Second Oak Leaf Cluster
   
   
   
   
  
• Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device and First Oak Leaf Cluster
   
   
   
   
  
• Legion of Merit
   
   
   
   
  
• Silver Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster
   
   
   
   
  
• Distinguished Service Cross
   
   
   
   
  
• Medal of Honor
   
   
   
  

 

I'm bumping this for Memorial Day.

[Odo 0]

Yes Very impressive.And he was a reluctant hero also.

To live that life. And to have it cut short by a plane crash.

Does not seem right somehow.

[Jeanway 0]

I always thought that it was those little guys who really packed a whallop! Good things and all. <_< It has something to do with ' Cosmic Space' <_< Just a theory.

[stoned_vulcan 0]

wow amazing

[WEAREBORG4102 0]

Wow I need to show that to my friend. He's going to be so proud....

He's kind of sad he's short....

This will cheer him up...

 

thanks VBG

:blink:

[mj 7]

I saw the movie "To Hell and Back" starring Audie Murphy as himself, many years ago. It is appropriate to remember his courage on this day.

[Jim Phaserman 0]

Audie Murphy is one of the greatest American hereos ever.

[Beam me up 0]

I have seen 'To Hell and Back' several times. That is an incredible movie for an incredible man.

[Vulcan IDIC 0]

Yep, I've seen the movie several times and it still amazes me how strong of a man he was for being such a little guy. He was definitely a true American hero and one of the most highly decorated of all WWII Vets.

Edited May 31, 2004 by Vulcan IDIC

[VaBeachGuy 12]

I'm bumping this for Memorial Day.

216095[/snapback]

[Spike The Trill 0]

Now he's what I'd call a "real American hero".

[Jim Phaserman 0]

I said it last year, and I will say it again, He's a great American hero. His courage is something we really don't see much of today, and maybe the last time we saw such courage was almost 4 years ago on 9/11. if all Americans were like him, we'd be living in the safest country in the world.

[Jim Phaserman 0]

I said it last year, and I will say it again, He's a great American hero. His courage is something we really don't see much of today, and maybe the last time we saw such courage was almost 4 years ago on 9/11. if all Americans were like him, we'd be living in the safest country in the world. But, he wouldn't be such a hero if everyone were like him. It's that kind of outstanding, distinctive courage that makes him a hero, and a special person.

[VaBeachGuy 12]

 

I've added the last few scenes of "To Hell and Back" to the first post. Keep in mind that as you watch, it's not a fictional event. It really did happen (even though they toned it down a bit for the movie).