An Unordinary Hero

One of the most unlikely heroes imaginable, the most decorated soldier in American history is a man named Audie Murphy. Audie received over 32 medals for his time of service in World War II, a period which consisted of little more than two years. Murphy received every decoration awarded by the United States Army, some more than once. He also received five decorations from Belgium and France.

Audie was born on June 20th 1924 in Texas, one of twelve children. The Murphy family was very poor, and Audie became extremely good at shooting with a rifle in order to help provide food for the family.

When World War Two began, Audie tried to enlist in the Marines and the Paratroopers, but was told both times that he was too small. Audie finally enlisted in the US Army at 5’ 5” tall, and 110 pounds. Audie was assigned to the 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry. Audie landed with the US troops into North Africa, and saw his first combat in the US invasion of the Mediterranean island of Sicily. From there Audie continued to move with the US army up through Sicily, Italy, and into Southern France.

In January of 1945, Audie and his platoon were near the town of Holtzwihr in Southern France, when they were attacked by Six German Panzers and 250 infantrymen. Audie (a Lieutenant by then) ordered his men to fall back to better defensive positions while he, undeterred by the enemy fire, proceeded to mount an abandoned burning tank destroyer and spray the Germans with its machinegun.

Murphy, though wounded in the leg, remained at his position and killed 50 of the Germans single handedly. His actions delayed the German attack and enabled him to lead his men in a counterattack, which drove the enemy from the village.

It was as a result of this action that Audie was to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award available to a US service man. A portion of the Medal of Honor Citation Audie received reads, “Lieutenant Murphy’s indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy’s objective.”

Audie’s long list of awards includes the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts, a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver battle star, four bronze battle stars, plus a bronze arrowhead representing his two amphibious assault landings at Sicily and southern France. During the French Campaign, Murphy was awarded two Presidential Citations, one from the 3rd Inf, Division, and one from the 15th Inf. Regiment during the Holtzwihr action. The French government awarded Murphy its highest award, the Legion of Honor, and Audie received two Croix de Guerre medals from France and the Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm from Belgium. Murphy was also awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

In all, Audie spent 29 months overseas and just under two years in combat with the 3rd Infantry Division, all before he turned 21. Audie served his country with such distinction that the US Army has always suggested there will never be another soldier like him.