A Soldier's Story: Major Audie Leon Murphy
A Soldier's Story: Major Audie Leon Murphy
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into World War II, Murphy attempted to enlist in several branches of the military but was turned away due to his youth and small stature. In June 1942, shortly after his 17th birthday, he was finally accepted into the U.S. Army after adjusting his birth records.
Murphy was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division and first saw action in North Africa in early 1943. He went on to fight in Sicily in July 1943, at Salerno in September 1943, and later in the Allied invasion of Southern France in 1944. At every campaign, he earned valor awards for his courage under fire.
On January 26, 1945, near Holtzwihr, France, Murphy performed the act of heroism that earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor. After his unit’s M10 tank destroyer was disabled and set aflame by enemy fire, Murphy climbed onto the burning vehicle and manned its .50-caliber machine gun. Despite being outnumbered by six tanks and roughly 250 enemy soldiers, he held his ground for over an hour, killing or wounding dozens of enemy troops. Even after sustaining injuries, he led his men in a successful counterattack that cleared the area.
By the end of the war, Murphy had received every U.S. combat award for valor, along with French and Belgian decorations, making him the most decorated American soldier of World War II. He later remained active in the U.S. Army Reserve.
In July 1945, Life magazine featured Murphy as “America’s Most Decorated Soldier.” Actor James Cagney, impressed by his story, invited him to Hollywood, launching a career in which Murphy appeared in more than 40 films, primarily Westerns and war stories. One of his most notable roles was portraying Henry Fleming in the 1951 film adaptation of Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage.
Murphy also authored the memoir To Hell and Back, in which he recounted his wartime experiences. Beyond his fame, he bravely spoke out about the struggles veterans faced with what is now recognized as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
On May 28, 1971, Major Audie Murphy tragically died in a plane crash in the mountains near Roanoke, Virginia. He was laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.
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