Tribute to a Soldier
LT Audie Leon Murphy
3^rd Infantry Division

    Audie's string of decorations began on March 2, 1944 with the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for valorous conduct in action against the enemy on the Anzio Beachhead, Italy.   This was followed with the First Oak Leaf Cluster on the Bronze Star Medal for his exemplary conduct in ground combat on or about 8 May, 1944.   Also at this time, Audie was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge.

    After landing near Ramatuelle in Southern France, Audie earned the Distinguished Service Cross on 15 August, 1944.   Audie Murphy advanced inland with his squad but was halted by intense machine gun and small arms fire from a boulder covered hill to his front.   Acting alone, he obtained a light machine gun and in the ensuring duel, he was able to silence the enemy weapon.   Killing two of it's crew and wounding the third.   As he proceeded further up the draw, two Germans advanced toward him.   They were quickly killed.   Still alone, Audie then dashed further up the draw toward the enemy strong point disregarding the hail of bullets directed at him.   Closing in, he wounded two more Germans with Carbine fire, killed two others in a fire fight, and forced the remaining five to surrender.   But, it was during this action that took the life of his dear friend, Lattie Tipton.   So devastated by this loss, that Audie co-dedicated his autobiographical book "To Hell and Back" to PVT Lattie Tipton and to PVT Joe Sieja who was killed in action on the Anzio Beachhead in January, 1944.

    On the morning of 2 October 1944, near the Cleurie Quarry, France, Audie inched his way over rugged terrain toward an enemy machine gun which had fired upon a group of American Officers on reconnaissance.   Getting to within fifteen yards of the German gun, Audie stood up, and disregarding a burst of enemy fire, flung two hand grenades into the position, killing four Germans and wounding three more thus destroying the position.   For this action, Audie was awarded the Silver Star Just three days later, on October 5, 1944, on a hill in the Vosges Mountains near Le Tholy, France, he earned an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Silver Star.   Carrying an SCR536 radio, and alone, Audie crawled fifty yards under severe enemy machine gun and rifle fire, to a point 200 yards from a strongly entrenched enemy.   For an hour, Audie Murphy directed artillery fire upon the enemy, killing fifteen Germans and inflicting approximately thirty-five casualties.

    Audie Murphy's three Purple Hearts recognize wounds he received on 15 September 15, 1944, in his action near Genevreuville, France; October 26, 1944 in action near Les Rouges, Eaux, France; January 25, 1945, in action in the Colmar Pocket.

    Audie Murphy received a severe hip wound from a German mortar on October 26, 1944.   Tired of the monotony of hospital life, he took it upon himself to rejoin Company B.   He was still in a state of convalescence on January 26, 1945 when Audie earned the Nation's highest tribute for action in the Riedwihr Woods near Holtzwihr, France.   The Third Division was engaged in fierce fighting in the Colmar Pocket which consisted of a heavily fortified bulge stretching from the Rhine into France.   At midnight on January 25, Company B moved through the Riedwihr Woods, but fierce fighting reduced the company to two officers and about 28 men.   Despite five replacements, the company remained critically under strength.  As the senior ranking officer, Audie was placed in charge of the company and was ordered to advance to the edge of the forest and hold the line until relieved.   Company B was supported by two tank destroyers from the 601st Tank battalion which were attached to the 15th Infantry, but they would soon be out of action.

    The frozen ground was covered with 10-12 inches of snow; it was impossible for the men to dig in.   Audie's company was strung along a three hundred yard front at the edge of the woods.   Company B was in a defensive position when at 1400 hours, on January 26, 1945, the Germans began a fierce attack from Holtzwihr.   This assault consisted of six heavy Jagdpanther tanks supported by approximately 250 German infantry attired in white snow capes.

    The first tank destroyer slid into a drainage ditch and could not extricate itself.   The second TD received a direct hit from a German 88 , killing the commander and gunner.   Seeing that the situation was desperate, Audie ordered his men to fall back to an alternate position.   At this time, Audie began calling in artillery supported by a field telephone through Battalion Headquarters.

    With his ammunition depleted, Audie decided to mount the burning TD and employ it's .50 caliber machine gun.   After removing the dead TD commander, Audie sprayed deadly fire upon the German infantry.   With the TD in danger of blowing up at any moment, the Germans gave it a wide berth.   The black smoke streaming from the TD made it difficult for the Germans to see Audie, but it also reduced his view of the advancing infantry.   At this point, Audie called in more artillery support even though it was dangerously close to his own position.   For an hour, Audie managed to kill or wound approximately 50 to 100 Germans and confused the rest as to the source of the deadly fire.

    The German tanks, lacking infantry support, were forced to withdraw.   Audie jumped from the burning TD only to hear it explode seconds later.   Thus ended one of the most famous Medal of Honor actions of World War II.



    Following the presentation of the Medal of Honor on June 2, 1945 (before his 21st birthday on the 20th,) at an airfield near Werfen, Austria, Audie was also awarded the Legion of Merit.   In addition to the US awards, Audie received the French Legion of Honor (Grade of Chevalier); the French Croix du Guerre with Silver Star; the French Croix du Guerre with Palm and the Belgium Croix du Guerre 1940 with Palm.

    Despite the weight and burden of his medals, Audie always stated that the "the real heroes were the ones with the wooden crosses."


    On July 14, 1950, Audie was sworn in as a member of the Texas Army National Guard's 36th Infantry Division and promoted to the rank of Captain.   He was promoted to the rank of Major on February 14, 1956.

    Audie Murphy's fame earned him the cover of Life Magazine on July 16, 1945.   His popular appeal led him to a film career in Hollywood. He was in forty-four movies, mainly westerns.   His most noteworthy were "To Hell and Back," "The Red Badge of Courage," and "The Unforgiven."     Bio Credits;   MOH Tribute





Trophy Sniper Weapon


    Audie Murphy copied from a 1945 scrapbook.   German Sniper Rifle - Audie brought home after service in World War II.   Audie caught the sniper between the eyes and brought back the rifle to Texas.   His sister, 13 year old, Nadine, is in the photo with him.

    Audie Leon Murphy was born on June 20, 1924, near Kingston (Hunt County) Texas, one of thirteen children.   On June 30, 1942, at the Federal Building in Dallas, Texas, Audie was inducted into the United States Army - Paratroopers.   Audie had initially applied to the Marines, but was turned down as being underweight and too short.   He received his basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas, and advanced infantry training was carried out at Ft. Meade, Maryland.   On March 3, 1943, Audie was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division.   On May 7, 1943, he was promoted to Private First Class; through subsequent promotions including Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, and finally on October 14, 1944, was given a battlefield commission to Second Lieutenant.   He was promoted to First Lieutenant after his Medal of Honor of Honor action.

    Before his 21st birthday, and after more than two years overseas, most of it front line duty, Audie Murphy returned home at the end of World War II with every decoration for valor this country could bestow.   He participated in nine battle campaigns, including participating in the assault landings at Sicily and Southern France.   His fame earned him the title of "The most decorated combat soldier of World War II."

Mr. & Mrs. Audie L. Murphy

with wife Pamela

Company B, 1st Battalion
15th Infantry
3rd Infantry Division

    Major General "Iron Mike" O'Daniel, CG, 3rd Infantry Division, presents the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy for heroism during World War II.

    The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website has been established to preserve the memory, honor, and history of the late Audie L. Murphy, most decorated American combat soldier of World War II who died tragically in an airplane accident in 1971.   He received every decoration for valor that this country had to offer plus 5 decorations presented to him by France and Belgium.

In 1997, this website was created by a high school teacher and donated to the Audie Murphy Research Foundation for several reasons.     It is our concern that the memory of Audie is beginning to fade.   Unfortunately, many of his friends and comrades are passing away as the years go by.   Sadly, younger generations seem to know little of Audie. It seems that in this day of tabloid journalism, sources of reliable information on one of America's greatest heroes are obscure and hard to find.     It is our desire this site will become a collection of information our children will discover and learn from.   We also hope that adults will reacquaint themselves with an important part of their past. And finally, it is our wish that this site will provide inspiration to those who live in a time when inspiration and heroes are scarce.

The Audie Murphy Research Foundation is a non-profit, public benefit organzation established for the purpose of collecting, preserving, and making available to the public historical information concerning the life and times of Audie Murphy.   It was founded by Terry M. Murphy, Audie's oldest son.     The Foundation is interviewing people who knew Audie Murphy and has published transcripts of their research in a series of newsletters.   These newsletters are provided free of charge to anyone who is interested in learning more about Audie Murphy. Larryann Willis, Executive Director Audie Murphy Research Foundation 793 So. Tracy Blvd # 260 Tracy, CA 95736 Toll Free:   (888) 314-AMRF AudieMurphy@juno.com .. bet you didn't know that Audie had a non-related twin, Feller Goff (click on photo to the left) Pomona Fairgrounds Racetrack California   (Sept. 21, 1957) Background Story Below, visiting wounded soldier backhome in Texas American Cemetary of War in France (July, 1948)   .. a (deafening) reminder that freedom is never free. The burden of war is borne by the few for the many. Audie Murphy being presented The French Legion of Honor The Croix de Guerre W/Palm by General de Lattre de Tassigny (July, 1948)   Ceremony in Paris, France "The Quiet American" (1957) Director Joe Mankiewicz Saigon, Vietnam Unveiling of U.S. Postage Stamp (Distinquished Soldiers Series) Honoring Audie Murphy on October 24, 1999 in Dallas, Texas The lady at the presentation is Audie's surviving sister, Billie Murphy Tindol "I believe in all the men who stood up against the enemy, taking their beatings without whimper and their triumphs without boasting. The men who went and would go again to hell and back to preserve what our country thinks right and decent. My country, America!" - Audie Murphy (1949) Audie Murphy Day (June 20, 2001) Farmersville, Texas   75442 Farmersville Times Newspaper June, 2005 Article     Audie Murphy Street From World War II Hero to Hollywood   "Some men were just born for honor. Audie Leon Murphy was one of them." - Kathleen Noble of Farmersville Times Quote -   "You lead from the front." Combat Awards List Military Service Number 01 692 509 Congressional Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster (2 Awards) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device and First Oak Leaf Cluster (2 Awards) Purple Heart with Second Oak Leaf Cluster (3 Awards) Other Medal Awards "V" for Valor     Oak Leaf Cluster = subsequent award(s) U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal Good Conduct Medal (Awarded to Enlisted Men) Distinguished Unit Emblem with First Oak Leaf Cluster American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal     with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars       (representing nine campaigns; silver star=5 bronze stars)     and one Bronze Arrowhead       (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France) World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp Armed Forces Reserve Medal Military Badges Combat Infantry Badge       Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar       Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar   Foreign Decorations Awarded French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star French Croix de Guerre with Palm Medal of Liberated France Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm     Lt. Murphy is the most decorated American soldier, holder of every decoration for bravery (save the Legion of Merit.)     He rose from the rank of private to become a company commander in 30 months of combat duty with the Third Army Division.     Lt. Murphy was almost 20 in 1944. Official Narrative For Congressional Medal of Honor MURPHY, AUDIE L. CITATION:   2ND Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry.     2ND Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone.     Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn.     Its crew withdrew to the woods.     2ND Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry.     With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2ND Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy.     He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver.     The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back.     For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2ND Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank.     Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire.     He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted.     He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw.     His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50.     2ND Lt. 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.     Visit actual documents, afadavits here;   Contents.