Recipient: Audie Murphy
Branch: US Army
Combat: World War II
At heart, Audie Murphy was a simple country boy from Texas who wanted to provide for his family. Born to poor sharecroppers, Murphy’s father disappeared while he was young, leaving his mother to raise 12 children alone. Murphy stepped up to support his family, dropping out of school in fifth grade to earn wages picking cotton. As he grew, tragedy struck in waves: first, his mother died, then Murphy watched helplessly as his siblings were sent to an orphanage.
But fate was about to turn Murphy’s life upside down. Desperate, heartbroken, and lacking purpose, Murphy decided to take drastic measures. In 1942, at age 17, he enlisted in the US Army by lying about his age and filing a false birth certificate that claimed he was 18. Later correspondence with his sister, Corrine, shows that Murphy added his younger siblings as his dependents so that they would receive more financial support from his Army paycheck.
After basic training, Murphy received a training assignment to North Africa in February 1943. While there, he earned the American Campaign Medal for his service in the American Theater. On July 7, 1943, Murphy transferred to Company B and saw combat in Sicily, thus proving evidence of his shrewd marksmanship. By 1944, he was in Italy, and quickly advanced through the ranks as officers were wounded, killed, or transferred in battle. Before long, Murphy and his unit were sent to southern France during Operation Dragoon.
America’s Most Decorated Soldier
Operation Dragoon started August 14, 1944. In just seven weeks, Murphy’s division experienced the staggering loss of 4,500 men. Unfortunately, things got worse before they improved. Murphy had no idea the major role he would play in turning the tide in favor of the Allies.
On January 26, 1945, while stationed near Holtzwihr, France, then-Second Lieutenant Murphy and Company B were attacked by six German tanks and 250 enemy forces. With nowhere to hide, Murphy ordered his company to retreat to the cover of the woods while he continued directing artillery fire by phone. Suddenly, behind him, an American tank received a direct hit. As flames licked the tank, the tank’s crew also ran to the safety of the woods. Murphy was completely alone and without coverage, facing the enemy on an open battlefield.
Gathering his wits, and with complete disregard for his personal safety, Murphy fearlessly climbed atop the burning tank. Despite being exposed to enemy fire from three sides, he began shooting enemy targets from the tank’s machine gun. More than once, German troops and tanks tried to remove Murphy, without success. He continued to take them out one by one, firing rounds for about an hour — until the ammunition was gone. Murphy received a leg wound but kept up the fight. When the bullets ran out, Murphy quickly rejoined his company and led a counterattack, which forced the enemy to withdraw. This ultimately led to a victory, and Murphy became a living legend. But he likely had no idea the monumental impact this battle would have on the rest of his life.
At Home in Hollywood
Almost overnight, Murphy became a household name and a beloved public figure. He was young, handsome, wholesome, courageous, and brave — the epitome of a true American war hero. His gallantry in the face of battle earned him 33 awards, including the Medal of Honor, which he was bestowed in June 1945. Murphy quickly became known as the most decorated soldier in World War II; his fame spread like wildfire.
In September 1945, actor James Cagney invited Murphy to visit Hollywood after seeing him on the cover of LIFE. While Murphy slowly acquired acting roles, he began writing his autobiography, To Hell and Back, which was published in 1949 and became a bestseller. By 1950, Murphy had signed a deal with Universal; he would star in 26 feature films over the next 15 years. One of those films was based on his autobiography, To Hell and Back, and given the same title. Murphy played himself — and was forced to relive some of the most traumatic events of his life: the loss of his mother, the loss of his best friend, and his terrifying wartime experiences. It’s possible that starring in the film was a catalyst that struck the core of Murphy’s mental and emotional state. Underneath his smiling, friendly, outgoing facade, Murphy struggled. He had anger issues, he had large gambling debts, and he had insomnia and depression. He also briefly suffered from an addiction to a sleeping pill called Pacidly, which he stopped taking cold turkey, experiencing withdrawal symptoms for a week. It’s likely Murphy had what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
A Sudden Farewell
Despite his struggles, Murphy found solace in his family, horses, and songwriting. In 1951, Murphy married Pamela Archer, and they had two sons, Terry and James. He owned ranches in Arizona, California, and Texas, and he bred and rode thoroughbreds and quarter horses. Murphy wrote several songs and worked with artists like Dean Martin, Roy Clark, Jerry Wallace, Harry Nilsson, and countless others. His two biggest hits were “Shutters and Boards,” co-written with Scott Turner, and “When the Wind Blows in Chicago.”
Murphy’s other cathartic outlet was advocacy work, particularly for veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. He candidly shared his personal experiences and campaigned for the US government to provide more healthcare benefits and mental health resources to veterans who were struggling to return to “normal” civilian life.
Tragically, Murphy’s life was cut short. During a business trip over Memorial Day weekend in 1971, Murphy and five others were killed when their private plane crashed into a mountain near Roanoke, Virginia. He was buried with full military honors on June 7, 1971, at Arlington National Cemetery.
