Born: June 20, 1924
Died: May 28, 1971 Place of Birth: Kingston, Texas
Major Notes:
Audie Murphy was the most decorated American soldier in World War II.
He came from a poor family of twelve children whose parents worked as sharecroppers.
When Murphy was just ten years old, his father deserted the family.
Murphy dropped out of school in grade eight and found work on farms.
It was during this period he developed skills in using a rifle.
Murphy's mother died when he was fifteen years old creating additional family stress.
He enlisted in the US Regular Army after being refused by the Marines and Army Paratroopers.
In 1943, Audie Murphy began active duty in Europe but, because he was small in size, he was first used only as a runner.
Murphy demonstrated he was a capable soldier by slipping out with patrols as much as possible and proving his worth in battle.
Over the remainder of the war, Murphy served on several fronts where he fought under circumstances requiring heroic actions.
He made intelligent decisions saving lives, capturing enemy soldiers, directing mortar and gun battles, and battling when wounded.
Murphy was even credited with the capture of six tanks.
For his war efforts, Murphy was awarded many decorations including three Purple Hearts, two Presidential Citations, a Distinguished Service Cross, and honors from Belgium and France.
When he was discharged from the military in 1945, he had achieved the rank of First Lieutenant.
Other than a short stint in the military during the Korean War, Murphy spent his remaining years in Hollywood.
He became an actor and had roles in over 40 movies and, at one time, starred in a detective television series.
Not only was Murphy named the "Most Popular Western Actor" in America in 1955, he also wrote several songs that were recorded by such singers as Porter Waggoner and Dean Martin.
The whole nation grieved when Murphy, at age 47, died in an unexpected airplane accident.
At the Arlington National Cemetery, the grave site of Audie Murphy is second in visits only to that of John F. Kennedy.
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