Audie Murphy

Audie Murphy was born into a large sharecropper family in Hunt County, Texas. The seventh of twelve children. His father abandoned the family, and his mother died when he was a teenager. Murphy dropped out of school in fifth grade to pick cotton and find other work to help support his family, and his skill with a hunting rifle was a necessity for feeding them. His older sister helped him to falsify documentation about his birth date to meet the minimum-age requirement for enlisting in the military.

Audie Murphy enlisted in the United States Army at 16 in 1942. He was 5'5" and weighted 110 pounds. Murphy had attempted to to join the Marines and Navy first, but was turned down due to his small size.

The military career of Audie Murphy covered nine World War II campaigns fought by the 3rd Infantry Division: Tunisia, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland and Central Europe. He lied about his age to enlist in the United States Army on June 30, 1942, and before his 20th birthday had earned every U.S. Army combat award for valor available during his period of service, including the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Colmar Pocket on January 26, 1945.

After the war Murphy went on to have a successful career as an actor and writer of country songs. His autobiography "To Hell and Back" was a bestseller and he played himself in the movie version.Murphy also wrote poetry.

Murphy received every U.S. military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, as well as foreign recognitions from France and Belgium for his World War II service. In 2013, he was honored by his home state with the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor. Civilian honors were bestowed upon him both during his lifetime and posthumously, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Audie Murphy was killed in a plane crash in 1971 in Virginia. He was interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His grave is one of the most visited sites in the cemetery.

Audie Murphy's Awards:

Medal of Honor

Distinguished Service Cross

Silver Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster

Legion of Merit

Bronze Star with "V" Device and First Oak Leaf Cluster

Purple Heart with Second Oak Leaf Cluster

U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal

Good Conduct Medal

Distinguished Unit Emblem with First Oak Leaf Cluster

American Campaign 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)

World War II Victory Medal

Army of Occupation with German Clasp

Armed Forces Reserve Medal

Good Conduct Medal

Combat Infantryman Badge

Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar

Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar

French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre

French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier

French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star

French Croix de Guerre with Palm

Medal of Liberated France

Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm