Audie Murphy: World War II Hero

The National Museum of American History and photographer Robert Weingarten are working in collaboration to build a historic portrait with help from the public. During the week of May 7-11, the museum will present five blogs about significant individuals in American history. Between May 11-28, visitors can vote on which of these historic figures they would most like to see depicted in the portrait. Once a winner is announced, the public will have further opportunity to contribute to Weingarten’s unique process of visual biography. The finished portrait will be displayed at the Smithsonian this fall.

This project is inspired by the exhibition Pushing Boundaries: Portraits by Robert Weingarten, on view July 2-October 14 at the Smithsonian’s International Gallery, Ripley Center on the National Mall.

 

Dog tags. New Testament. Standard equipment for the World War II soldier, to be identified if wounded or killed, to find comfort in the darkest hours. But Audie Murphy was no ordinary soldier, as evidenced by the Medal of Honor Certificate displayed next to these items and his “Ike jacket” in the Medal of Honor section of The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. On January 26, 1945, he single-handedly held off six tanks and a force of 250 Germans by climbing on a burning tank destroyer and utilizing its .50 caliber machine gun. He was wounded in the process, but that didn’t stop him. His actions saved his company, and stopped the advancing Germans. By the time the war was over, Audie Murphy had been awarded 33 decorations; among those, in addition to the nation’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, were two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the French Croix de Guerre. He was the most highly decorated World War II soldier, and few have matched him for bravery since. Which invites the question: what was it about Audie Murphy that impelled him to become a hero?

Audie Murphy’s “Ike” jacket and Medal of Honor certificate

Audie Leon Murphy was born into a poor sharecropper family near Kingston, Texas, in 1925. One of twelve children, he dropped out of school to support his mother, brothers, and sisters after his father abandoned the family. Support meant not only working for money, but also hunting for food. A friend once commented that he was a good shot, to which he replied that if he wasn’t, his family wouldn’t eat that night. After his mother’s death, he went to live with an older sister and her husband. When the United States entered World War II, he tried to enlist with the Marines, but was rejected because of his age. He persuaded his sister to falsify his birth certificate, and in 1942 he was accepted into the National Guard. He served with the 3rd Infantry Division, first as a private and later earning a battlefield commission as a Second Lieutenant. The 3rd Infantry Division was attached to the Fifth Army and later the Seventh: Murphy took part in the campaigns in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany.

Upon his return to civilian life, Murphy was an instant celebrity. He parlayed his newfound fame into a movie career, starting with the film Beyond Glory in 1948 and ending with A Time for Dying in 1969. In between, there were numerous low-budget westerns, and the occasional star turn in The Red Badge of Courage and To Hell and Back. In the latter, Murphy starred as himself after Tony Curtis turned down the role. The movie, based on Murphy’s autobiography of his experiences in World War II, was a huge hit, and set box office records that lasted for 20 years.

Movie still from Universal Studio’s production of “To Hell and Back”, 1955

By the late 1960s, his acting career was mostly over, and he explored other business opportunities. But the effects of the war lingered for many years after; he suffered from “battle fatigue,” what we now refer to as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). The nightmares, insomnia, and paranoia brought on addictions to sleeping pills. As a soldier who always looked out for his fellow soldiers, his experiences led him to lobby the government for better treatment of veterans who suffered the same symptoms as he did. Sadly, Murphy died in a plane crash in 1971, thus ending any further help he might have provided to the veterans.

So back to the question…how did a young sharecropper’s son of slight physical stature become the most highly decorated combat soldier of World War II? Murphy was fearless. He was a crack shot. And he took care of his Army family, much as he had taken care of his mother, brothers, and sisters back in Texas. Of the action that resulted in the Medal of Honor citation, first and foremost he was protecting his men. He held off the Germans so the soldiers under his command could withdraw to safety.

Audie Murphy was never about himself; he felt the Medal of Honor he received was as much for the men he fought with as it was for him. In the movie To Hell and Back, in the final scene where he is awarded the Medal of Honor, images of his fallen comrades appear on the screen; Murphy wanted the American public to know that these men were as deserving as he of the award.

Kathleen Golden is Associate Curator in the Division of Armed Forces History.

 

Comments

[Jo Ann Stevens]

Audie Murphy has my vote. He was most definitely a great person as well as a national hero, who will never be surpassed.

[Jeff L Norrup]

As a product of the late 50's I was raised with the low budget westerns that Audie made and remember seeing "To Hell and Back", when I was a child. Many years later when it became time for me to serve my country, I wasn't quite sure what kind of Soldier I would be, or what was expected of me, other than doing my time and moving on with my life, but at the age of 18 I was sent to the 3rd Infantry Division and, was sent to Division Headquarters in Wurzberg Germany to wait for my duty orders. I sat for orientation into the Division and a nice officer had explained some things about the Divisions history, which at the time for someone my age didn't mean a whole lot, I was just a kid who came from a broken home,
and was shuffled thru foster care. Then they showed the movie "To Hell and Back", and when that movie was over, I was so moved and so touched by they way this young boy had to take of his family , and his men. That when I left to my duty station, I knew what kind of person I wanted to be for myself and my country . Audies story is a piece of real Americanism, of selfless service and sacrafice to all of us. I met him once when I was a child, my father had taken me to a place called Knotts Berry farm, and we sat in the John Wayne movie theater, and they introduced him and people applauded , and well I had no idea who he really was, to me he was a cowboy. I only wish now that I could have met him and told him that he made me be a better person than what I was, when I was a troubled teen that possibly could have been a troubled adult. Audie L. Murphy is an American Inspiration, and I believe that our Nations hero's come first to be honored, before artists and scientists...Thank You for reading.

[martin]

The man is a national hero, Semper Fi,
Martin Hohenegger
USMC 66-72 VietNam 67-68Wia 12/67

[Richard Morris Caret USMC Captain Ret.]

Semper Fi

[Gene]

Lets honor who do the most to protect us and and gave it all. Poor boy raises to the height of a soldier.

[Ed Wheeler]

One of the weaknesses of a Democratic system
is that it relieves those responsible for making hard decisions from having to make them. Audie Murphy lies in honored glory in Arlington regardless of the outcome of this survey. Where are the rest of them?

[Marilyn Hopewell]

Audie is the only choice here. He was a true hero, thinking of others far more than himself. American has never known a more humble and committed soldier. He never seemed to give up on his country or those he cared about. His grave in Arlington National Cemetery is said to be the second most visited behind those of the Kennedys. I can certainly understand why he is so beloved for all he gave to this country.

[Shirley Jean Paulk]

Audie is and was the only true hero of the U.S.A. Few people
realize that even after the war he continued to give his time
and efforts for this country. In PSA's for the military, in donating his time for ride-along and assistance with local law enforcement patrols, and drug stings. Visiting wounded soldiers in hospitals and doing PSA's for polio and other childhood diseases. As a Free-mason and 32nd degree Shrinner he donated his time for many worthwhile causes. All of this was done without any thought of self grandizing or request for publicity. Not only will there never be a soldier such as Audie L. Murphy, there will also never be a humble patriot as Audie. May he rest in peace in God's eternal
love. He is the only true hero to vote for.

[Robert H Weymouth Jr1]

Audie suffered from post traumatic stress syndrom but was not an alcoholic. I am one. My father was one, but Audie was not. The strain and guilt he felt over the fact that he survived and others did not does not mean he turned to alchohol to solve any imagined guilt he had.
Audie Leon Murphy was the greatest war hero American has ever, ever known. "Little Texas" as his buddies knew him was a great leader, soldier and fighting man in the most glorious history and traditions of the United States Army. Sure, Audie got depressed but he did not drink to medicate himself. He toughed his way through it. Tragically, he died in 1971 in an air plane crash but he will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, be my greatest war hero (second only to my Dad). Please give Audie every consideration without the scandal of alcohol abuse which he did not experience. May Audie L. Murphy rest in God's eternal peace. He and my Dad are talking about Anzio and the Italian campaign because you see, that is where my Dad fought as well. I wouldn't give a bean, to be a fancy pantsed Marine, I'd rather be a Dogface Soldier Like I am......may God bless Audie and my Dad forever. Due to their efforts, we are free to day.

[Jerry Kovar]

"He was and always will be a hero" is a true statement unfortunately his "addiction to alcohol" is so far from the truth that you are doing this hero a disservice. Can't the error be corrected, please.

[Richard Rodgers]

Ms. Walsh is absolutely correct. Audie Murphy did not smoke, rarely EVER drank (most friends of his said NEVER drank) and he was prescribed sleeping pills by a doctor to combat his insomnia after assuring Audie they were safe. Ms. Walsh has the rest of the details.

If need be, I will provide you cites and sources.

As the webmaster for the Audie Murphy Research Foundation, please fix this error.

The rest of the information is pretty much on the money.

[Gerry Gerassi]

Hi,
No need to say more.
Audie is the man for every momorable event in the USA.
I vote for him.
Thanks
Gerry
Malmö
Sweden

[MSgt G. L. White]

Unfortunately, a lot of "historians" don't get much past a Wikipedia article for their research, or a couple of biographies -- many of which are either poorly researched, or were written primarily with sales in mind and print anything with shock value.

Looking at the choices for an American "icon," they were obviously picked with political correctness in mind, not their contribution to America or them actually deserving to be emulated by Americans, especially our youth.

Murphy is the only real choice here.

[NMAH]

@Ruxy Thanks for your comment. Audie was a more complicated man than our brief post can adequately describe, but we can all agree that despite his troubles he was and always will be a hero.

[Ruxy Walsh]

Nice article but just to let you know Audie was NEVER an alcoholic or had problems with it.He rarely drank at all and if so it was wine w/dinner. This wrong info has been out there but is not correct. And as for the sleeping pills,he did get addicted because in those days the doctors thought they were "safe" to use. He got himself off the pills when he realized they were becoming a problem by locking himself in a hotel room and going cold turkey to get off of them. Audie was a true hero.