“They were killing my friends.”

- LT Audie Murphy, awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Colmar Pocket, Alsace, France, January 26, 1945, when asked after the War why he seized the machine gun on a burning M10 Tank Destroyer and took on an entire company of German infantry.



Awards and Honors

Audie Murphy was killed May 28, 1971 in the crash of a private plane that also took the lives of the pilot and 4 other passengers, in conditions of rain, clouds, fog and zero visibility. The pilot reportedly had 8000 hours of flying time, but held no instrument rating.

I’ve been trying to see To Hell and Back for a couple years, but it just hasn’t been available; after posting, I’ll go look again to make sure.

Thank you for reminding me I want to take my son to the Audie Murphy museum in Greenville TX.

I recently ordered the wide screen dvd version of "To Hell and Back" from my local library. Should be getting it this week.

quote:

Originally posted by dewhorse:
Thank you for reminding me I want to take my son to the Audie Murphy museum in Greenville TX.

Also drive over the Audie Murphy overpass while your out and about!

Not bad for someone 5'-5".

quote:

Originally posted by Angus the Kid:
Not bad for someone 5'-5".

and underage when he went in, his sister falsified his DOB by a year.

My father was in the 12'th Armored Division, Recon. He fought at the
Colmar pocket. He passed just before last Christmas at the nice old age of 100.

At 5'3", he's a giant to me (and I'm not just talking about his height).

Grit channel has been running a number of his movies lately. He wasn't a bad actor, and could ride a good horse.

I did not know he died so young and in a plane crash. A great American hero.

I was leaving the grocery store a few months back and noticed an older gentleman wearing an Army uniform of WW2 vintage standing next to a table with pamphlets and other info so I walked over to see what he was peddling. Turns out he is part of a group that put on a small museum/monument to Audie Murphy so that his memory is preserved for the next generation.
I spoke with him for quite a while and even though I know most of the stories I still enjoyed hearing about true heroism.
A lot of other folks walking by stopped to listen in also .

Audie struggled with PTSD for many years after his service. The San Antonio VA is named after him.

... I would happily spend days reviewing what each of those awarded medals mean.

Wow. Thanks for sharing.

</chris>

I have watched most of his westerns on GRIT several times or more.

That photo of Audie looks like he is wearing a uniform from some east european country instead of a US Army solider with all of those medals ...But he EARNED every one of them... Started as a private / went into combat and received a battle field commission to be promoted to the officer ranks.....He was awarded the "Medal of Honor" (highest of all US Military Awards)..which is not given out freely.. .............................................................. drill sgt.

quote:

I’ve been trying to see To Hell and Back for a couple years, but it just hasn’t been available

Here you go. That site has all kinds of old war movies.

https://www.military-stuff.org...back-1955-full-film/

quote:

Originally posted by drill sgt:
That photo of Audie looks like he is wearing a uniform from some east european country instead of a US Army solider with all of those medals ...But he EARNED every one of them... Started as a private / went into combat and received a battle field commission to be promoted to the officer ranks.....He was awarded the "Medal of Honor" (highest of all US Military Awards)..which is not given out freely.. .............................................................. drill sgt.

He died on my birthday May 28th and his birthday is Jun 20th and that's my sister's BD

His courage was not just on the battlefield.

After the war Murphy was dogged by PTSD. He began taking the drugs of the day, notably Placidyl. When he realized he was addicted to it, he locked himself in a motel room, stopped taking the pills, and went through withdrawal symptoms for a week. Any person with the courage to do that is remarkable.

Many thanks, Skull Leader

quote:

Originally posted by Angus the Kid:
Not bad for someone 5'-5".

'It's not the size of the man in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the man'.