The Story of Audie Murphy The Most Decorated Soldier In American History
11/10/22
Early Life and Background
- Born in 1925 in Kingston, Texas
- Raised in a small rural town in northeastern Texas
- 7th of 12 children in an Irish descent family
- Sharecroppers during the Great Depression
- Father left when he was 15 and mother passed away a year later
Interest in Guns and Military
- Learned to handle a gun at an early age
- Dreamed of joining the Marines but was rejected due to his size
- Convinced the Army to accept him despite his diminutive frame
- Joined the third infantry division
- Developed marksmanship skills in the woods of Northeast Texas
Combat and Heroism
- Received the Medal of Honor at the age of 19
- Held off a company of German soldiers for an hour in France
- Recognized by his men for saving their lives
- Defeated the enemy single-handedly
- Received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army
Post-War Life and Acting Career
- Returned home from Europe as a hero
- Greeted with parades and banquets
- Featured on the cover of Life Magazine
- Invited to Hollywood by actor James Cagney
- Started a 21-year acting career
Tragic End and Legacy
- Died in a plane crash in 1971
- Ended the life of one of America's greatest heroes
- Legacy of courage and strength lives on
- Forever grateful as a nation
- Most decorated soldier in American history