Audie Murphy
Audie Leon Murphy was a renowned American soldier, actor, and author, celebrated for his extraordinary bravery during World War II. Born into a struggling sharecropping family, he developed impressive shooting skills at a young age, which later served him well in combat. Joining the Army after being turned down by the Marines and paratroopers due to his size, he fought valiantly in numerous campaigns, including those in Italy and France. Over his military career, he was promoted from private to first lieutenant, earning a reputation for his audacious tactics, such as single-handedly repelling a major enemy attack in France in 1945.
Murphy's heroism led to him becoming one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of the war, credited with killing 240 enemy soldiers and sustaining three wounds. After the war, he transitioned to acting, starring in films, most notably "To Hell and Back," which was based on his autobiography of the same name. His life story not only inspired patriotism but also significantly impacted Army recruitment efforts. Tragically, Murphy died in a plane crash in 1971 and was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, where he remains a symbol of courage and resilience.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Audie Murphy
- Born: June 20, 1924
- Birthplace: near Kingston, Texas
- Died: May 28, 1971
- Place of death: near Roanoke, Virginia
Identification Highly decorated World War II hero who would become a film star
Earning thirty-three awards and decorations, Murphy became the most-decorated soldier in U.S. Army history. He exemplified grace under pressure, saving many of his fellow soldiers. After the war, his humility, simplicity, dignity, and patriotism made him an icon, World War II’s version of Sergeant York.
With spectacular reflexes and coordination, as a young child Audie Leon Murphy became an excellent marksman, hunting game for his often-hungry sharecropping family. Too scrawny for the Marines or the paratroops, he was finally accepted by the Army, Fifteenth Infantry Regiment, Third Infantry Division. Fighting in Italy and France, he rose from private to first lieutenant, was wounded three times, and killed 240 Axis soldiers.
Murphy’s audacity threw the enemy off balance. For example, on January 26, 1945, his small company was attacked by six Nazi tanks and 250 infantry near Holtzwihr, France. Murphy leapt onto a burning tank destroyer, grabbed its machine gun, and drove back the Germans.
Lifemagazine put Murphy on its July 16, 1945, cover. In 1948, he appeared in the first of several dozen films, most of them Westerns. His 1949 autobiography, To Hell and Back, imaginatively ghostwritten by his friend David McClure, was a best seller for fourteen weeks. Murphy died in a small plane crash in 1971 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Impact
The personification of heroism, Murphy fought in campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. He inspired patriotism and promoted Army recruitment. As a film star, he was best known for his roles in The Red Badge of Courage (1951) and To Hell and Back (1955).
Bibliography
Joiner, Ann Levington. A Myth in Action: The Heroic Life of Audie Murphy. Baltimore, Md.: PublishAmerica, 2006.
Murphy, Audie. To Hell and Back. 1949. Reprint. New York: Henry Holt, 2002.