Audie Murphy is one of America’s greatest sons. I don’t really know how else to say it; it seems no matter what you say, it won’t to do him the justice he deserves. Audie was born on 20 June 1925; he came from a large family and his father abandoned them and his mother died when he was a teenager. He left school to pick cotton and hunt rabbits to help support his brothers and sisters. When the U.S. was attacked by the Japanese on 7 December 1941, he tried to enter the Army, Navy, and then the Marine Corp (with the help of his sister who forged his paperwork) and was turned away by them all for being too small. He was eventually allowed to join the Army. Murphy would be awarded every medal for valor the U.S. has in addition to awards and honors from France and Belgium.

Like a lot of people after any war, Audie suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, (even thought that wasn’t a thing back then) at one point it got so bad that he slept with a gun under his pillow, and he also had night terrors so bad he started sleeping in the room above his garage. Most of his nightmares had to do with losing so many of his friends during the war. His passion to save his friends gave him the courage to accomplish all the heroic acts that earned him the decorations he received. His awards include the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star X 2, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star X 2, and Purple Heart X 2, just to name the top few.

In his second career, in Hollywood, he would make over 40 films, including starring as himself in the movie ‘To Hell and Back’. But, like all movies, the book is much better.

I knew I couldn’t do his story justice in the couple of pages I write, so I encourage you to read his book. He was driven more by his love of family and friends than anything else in his life.

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