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'''Audie Leon Murphy''' (June 20, 1925 – May 28, 1971) was one of the most famous and decorated [[Americans|American]] combat soldiers of [[World War II]]. He served in the [[European Theater of World War II|European Theater of Operations]] where he earned the [[Medal of Honor]] and several other decorations for combat heroism including combat decorations from [[France]] and [[Belgium]].
'''Audie Leon Murphy''' (June 20, 1925 – May 28, 1971) was one of the most famous homosexual and decorated [[Americans|American]] combat soldiers of [[World War II]]. He served in the [[European Theater of World War II|European Theater of Operations]] where he earned the [[Medal of Honor]] and several other decorations for combat heroism including combat decorations from [[France]] and [[Belgium]].
He was born into poverty on a farm in northeast Texas and was named for two family friends who kept the Murphys from starving. Murphy lied about his age to enlist in the military and follow his dream.of becoming a soldier. He was only 19 years old when the Medal of Honor was pinned on his chest. Murphy always maintained that the medals on his uniform belonged to his entire military unit. His postwar stress caused him to sleep with a loaded gun under his pillow for the rest of his life, looking for solace in addictive sleeping pills. Murphy drew public attention to what would in later wars be labeled [[post-traumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD). The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in [[San Antonio]] is named for him.
He was born into poverty on a farm in northeast Texas and was named for two family friends who kept the Murphys from starving. Murphy lied about his age to enlist in the military and follow his dream.of becoming a soldier. He was only 19 years old when the Medal of Honor was pinned on his chest. Murphy always maintained that the medals on his uniform belonged to his entire military unit. His postwar stress caused him to sleep with a loaded gun under his pillow for the rest of his life, looking for solace in addictive sleeping pills. Murphy drew public attention to what would in later wars be labeled [[post-traumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD). The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in [[San Antonio]] is named for him.


Revision as of 03:46, 28 February 2013

Audie L. Murphy
File:Audie Murphy.png
Born(1925-06-20)June 20, 1925
Kingston, Hunt County, Texas, U.S.
DiedMay 28, 1971(1971-05-28) (aged 45)
Brush Mountain near Catawba or Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branch
Years of service
Rank
Unit
Battles / wars
Awards
Other workActor, songwriter
SignatureAudie Murphy
WebsiteAudie L. Murphy

Audie Leon Murphy (June 20, 1925 – May 28, 1971) was one of the most famous homosexual and decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. He served in the European Theater of Operations where he earned the Medal of Honor and several other decorations for combat heroism including combat decorations from France and Belgium. He was born into poverty on a farm in northeast Texas and was named for two family friends who kept the Murphys from starving. Murphy lied about his age to enlist in the military and follow his dream.of becoming a soldier. He was only 19 years old when the Medal of Honor was pinned on his chest. Murphy always maintained that the medals on his uniform belonged to his entire military unit. His postwar stress caused him to sleep with a loaded gun under his pillow for the rest of his life, looking for solace in addictive sleeping pills. Murphy drew public attention to what would in later wars be labeled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio is named for him.

In his postwar civilian life, Murphy enjoyed a two-decade career as actor. He played himself in the 1955 autobiographical To Hell and Back based on his 1949 memoir of the same name. Most of his 44 films were Westerns. He made guest appearances on celebrity television shows and starred in the television series Whispering Smith. As a song writer, he penned the successful "Shutters and Boards". He bred quarter horses in California and Arizona, and became a regular participant in horse racing. In the last few years of his life, his film career took a downturn and he found himself plagued with money problems. But he remained aware of his role model influence and refused offers for alcohol and cigarette commercials. Murphy died in a plane crash in Virginia in 1971, just shy of his 46th birthday. He was interred, with full military honors, in Arlington National Cemetery. His widow Pamela devoted the rest of her life to the needs of veterans at a Veterans Administration hospital in Los Angeles.

Early life

Murphy was born one of twelve children to Emmett Berry Murphy and Josie Bell Killian on June 20, 1925, in Kingston,[1] Hunt County, Texas.[2][3][4][5][6] The Murphys were sharecroppers of Irish descent.[7] Emmett Murphy had a tendency to drift in and out of his family's life. Audie Leon Murphy was named after two local men who saved the family from starvation. When Josie was pregnant with Audie and caring for the couple's three living children, Emmett deserted the family and left her to fend for herself. The family was saved by the kindness of Audie B. Evans Sr., who lived 15 miles away. He made sure the family had food and basic supplies. A second neighbor named Audie West worked the Murphy garden so Josie could stay off her feet. Audie West also assisted in the birth of the baby named for himself and for Audie B. Evans Sr.[8] Emmett abandoned the family for good in 1936. Josie died in 1941. The loss of his mother stayed with Audie throughout his life.

She died when I was sixteen. She had the most beautiful hair I've ever seen. It reached almost to the floor. She rarely talked; and always seemed to be searching for something. What it was I don't know. We didn't discuss our feelings. But when she passed away, she took something of me with her. It seems I've been searching for it ever since.[9]

— Audie Murphy

Murphy grew up on farms in the Farmersville and Greenville areas, and near Celeste, where he attended elementary school.[10] He dropped out of school in the fifth grade when his father deserted the family, and to help support his family he picked cotton for $1 a day. He became very skilled with a rifle, hunting small game to help feed the family. A self-confessed loner, Murphy would later say that even in his youth he had an explosive temper and was subject to mood swings.[11] Murphy had wanted to be a soldier all his youth and dreamed about combat. After his mother died, he worked at a combination general store, garage and gas station in Greenville. He also worked in a radio repair shop.[12] Hunt County authorities placed his three youngest siblings in Boles Children's Home,[13] a Christian orphanage in Quinlan. In 1946, he bought a two-story home in Farmersville to accommodate his family.[14]

Military career

The death of Murphy's mother added even more impetus to his ambition to become a soldier.[12] Murphy tried to enlist, but was declined by both the Marines and Army paratroopers because of weight requirements.[12] The Navy also turned him down for being underweight.[15] He was finally accepted in the infantry by the Army.[16] He was inducted at Greenville[6] and sent to Camp Wolters, Texas, for basic training.[17] He envisioned himself becoming a glider pilot. During a session of close-order drill, he passed out and was nicknamed "Baby". His company commander tried to have him transferred to a cook and bakers' school, but Murphy insisted on becoming a combat soldier.[16] After 13 weeks of basic training, he was sent to Fort Meade, Maryland for advanced infantry training.[6][17]

Battles

North Africa

A well-meaning officer tried to have him transferred to the post exchange at Fort Meade for the duration of his enlistment, but Murphy convinced his superiors to deploy him into combat. In early 1943, he was shipped out to Casablanca, Morocco in North Africa as a replacement in the 3rd Platoon, Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. Murphy saw no action in North Africa, but instead participated in extensive training maneuvers, along with the rest of the 3rd Infantry Division.[18]

Italy

His youthful dreams of the glory of being a soldier were quickly tempered by the reality. He abhorred what he believed to be the look of fear in a fellow soldier's eyes.[19] His combat initiation finally came when he took part in the invasion of Sicily, on July 10, 1943.[20] After killing two Italian officers, Murphy's response to a fellow soldier's shocked reaction was, "it is not easy to shed the idea that human life is sacred ... we have been put into the field to deal out death."[21] Combat had replaced his emotions with "a weary indifference that will follow me throughout the war."[21] He was briefly transferred to headquarters away from the front lines. Murphy kept slipping out to go on scouting missions. He received his promotion to corporal on July 15, 1943 and was sent back out to the front lines.[21] What he witnessed on the battlefield in Sicily altered his perception, "I have seen war as it actually is, and I do not like it."[22]

After Sicily was secured from Axis forces, the 3rd Infantry Division invaded the Italian mainland, landing near Salerno[22] in September 1943.[20] While leading a night patrol near Mignano Monte Lungo Hill 193,[23] Murphy and his men ran into German soldiers, but fought their way out of an ambush, taking cover in a quarry.[24] The German command sent a squad of soldiers in, but they were stopped by intense machine gun and rifle fire. Three German soldiers were killed and four others captured.[25] Murphy and his unit were sent for additional training near Naples.[26] He noted the contradictions of the Army's "no looting" regulations regarding a stray chicken killed for food, and the carcass immediately hidden: "In combat, we can destroy whole towns and be patted on the back for our efforts. But here in the rear, the theft of a chicken is a serious offense."[27]

Murphy was promoted to sergeant on December 13, 1943.[28] The unit underwent rehearsals for the January 1944 storming of Anzio beachhead, the beginning of the liberation of Rome.[29] Private Joe Sieja (referred to as "Little Mike Novak" in Murphy's book To Hell and Back)[30] died in the initial landing. Sieja was one of two people, the other being Lattie Tipton, to whom Murphy's book was dedicated.[31] Murphy was hospitalized in Naples with malaria and missed being part of the initial landing.[32] On January 13, 1944, Murphy was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Upon release from the hospital, he became part of the replacement troops and joined his unit.[33] After spending time in foxholes during reconnaissance, his unit became part of a major beachhead expansion assault.[34] He repressed his battlefield panic: "Fear is right here beside you. This time will I be the one who gets it?" [35] His unit was ordered to advance with the tanks, retreat and advance again.[36] His platoon's commanding officer was taken out by an injury, and Murphy was put in charge.[37] One of his men was killed by friendly fire from within his own platoon while the unit was holding the line.[38] Murphy was forced to report one of his men for desertion, and the soldier received a sentence of 20 years in prison.[39] Murphy was out of action for a week with a recurrence of malaria.[40]

By May, the troops began to advance.[41] They engaged in heavy combat on the march towards Rome. Once in Rome, Murphy began to feel worn: "there is no joy within me. We can have no hope until the war is ended."[42]

France

Murphy's platoon was deployed for more training[43] and not told it was for the 3rd Infantry Division landing in Southern France on August 15, 1944 as part of Operation Dragoon.[44] After landing with the first wave of the assault, Murphy and his platoon began to move inland.[45] Finding himself alone with his platoon pinned down, Murphy began expending his ammunition at the German troops. He then stole a German machine gun and emptied it on the Germans.[46] Private Lattie Tipton (referred to as "Brandon" in Murphy's book To Hell and Back), the second person to whom Murphy's book was dedicated,[30] joined him and was killed by a German soldier in a machine gun nest who was feigning surrender. Murphy went into a rage and single-handedly wiped out the German machine gun crew which had just killed his friend. He then used the German machine gun and grenades to destroy several other nearby enemy positions.[47] "I go back down the hill and find Brandon. Then I sit by his side and bawl like a baby."[48] For these actions, Murphy received the Distinguished Service Cross on September 22, 1944.[49][50] Murphy and his platoon found other Germans on a hillside and took them as prisoners.[51] His unit participated in the fighting in Montélimar[52] and helped secure Besançon.[53]

In the area of the Vosges mountains, Murphy was hospitalized with a foot wound.[54] By this point, all but one of Murphy's original group had either been killed or taken off the lines with wounds. The one remaining was identified in To Hell and Back as Sergeant Emmet J. Kerrigan.[55] (Murphy claimed to have used fictitious names in his book.)[30] Kerrigan was shortly thereafter permanently taken off the battlefield by a mortar-shell fragmentation.[56] Murphy was awarded a battlefield commission to second lieutenant on October 14, 1944, which elevated him to platoon leader.[50][57] While trying to take a quarry near Cleurie,[56] he was hospitalized for several weeks with a battlefield hip wound that became infected with gangrene.[58]

Holtzwihr, France

He became company commander on January 26, 1945, the same day his unit participated in the battle at Holtzwihr, France.[59] Murphy's unit was deployed to the area near Guémar to eliminate the Colmar Pocket.[60] While awaiting the completion of a bridge over the Ill river, his unit stood watch. Murphy shared a foxhole with two others, and his hair froze to the ground when he dozed off.[61] A mortar shell struck leaving the other two men dead and Murphy with superficial wounds to his legs.[62] Three M10 tank destroyers accompanied them in their assault on German troops. One of the tank destroyers immediately became stuck in a ditch and abandoned. Murphy reported an oncoming force of "six tanks ... and maybe a couple hundred foot soldiers."[63] Of the seven officers who began with the assault, Murphy was the lone remaining officer at the end of the action. 128 men began with Murphy, but only an estimated 40 remained.[64]

Another tank destroyer loaded with gasoline and ammunition had been hit by enemy fire and abandoned by its crew who expected it to immediately explode.[65] Murphy kept in contact by land-line telephone and sent his men to the rear while he continued to fire his M1 carbine until the last of his ammunition was spent. Murphy climbed aboard the abandoned, burning tank destroyer and used its .50 caliber machine gun to cut down the German infantry. He wiped out one full squad who had crawled in a ditch within 100 feet (30 m) of his position.[66][67] Murphy's hour-long, single-handed battle came to a halt when his telephone line to the artillery fire direction center was cut by enemy artillery. He wandered in a complete daze to an outpost:[68]

Murphy located his men and immediately led them back out to battle, with complete disregard for his own wounds. Reinforcements joined them for "the big attack".[69] He stopped thinking of his men as people and viewed them only as part of the larger whole.[70] They crossed the north bank of the Embranchement de Colmar at night, evading death by a German battalion that had fired twenty-two thousand rounds of ammunition in the dark.[71] A unit of war-weary Germans surrendered to them, and Murphy and his men used the prisoners' helmets to disguise themselves from passing German tanks.[72] The allies took Neuf-Brisach, and Murphy's unit was ordered a respite from battle. During seven weeks of fighting in the campaign, Murphy's division suffered 4,500 casualties.[73][20]

Murphy was removed from the front lines to Regimental Headquarters and made a liaison officer.[74] He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on February 22, 1945. As he learned of his former unit nearing the Siegfried Line, he armed himself with a carbine and went back out on the lines to rejoin and help his men.[75] Murphy was on a train headed for authorized leave on the French Riviera when he was informed of the surrender of Germany.[76]

Post-battle military

File:Audie Murphy Life magazine July 16 1945.jpg
Cover of Life magazine, July 16, 1945[77]

On June 2, 1945, near Salzburg, Austria,[78] Lt. Gen. Alexander Patch,[15] commander of the U.S. Seventh Army, presented Murphy with the Medal of Honor and Legion of Merit for his actions at Holtzwihr. When asked after the war why he had seized the machine gun and taken on an entire company of German infantry, he replied simply, "They were killing my friends."[79][80] He received every U.S. military award for valor available from the U.S. Army[50] except the Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device (Army Commendation Ribbon). He received the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, and one Bronze Star Medal (2) with "V" Device. The Legion of Merit was given to him for meritorious service with the 3rd Infantry Division in France from January 22 to February 18, 1945. Murphy was awarded ten U.S. individual decorations. He received three French individual decorations, and one Belgian individual decoration for World War II.[17][20][80]

On June 10, 1945, Murphy left Paris and arrived in San Antonio, Texas, to a hero's welcome. He was feted with parades, banquets, and speeches.[81] He appeared on the cover of the July 16 issue of Life magazine as the "most decorated soldier". Murphy was discharged from active duty with the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant, at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio on August 17, 1945, and discharged from the U.S. Army on September 21, 1945.[28]

Hoping to serve in the Korea War after it broke out on June 25, 1950, Murphy joined the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard. However, the 36th division was not called to service. Murphy was promoted to the rank of major by the National Guard and, in 1966, transferred to inactive status with the guard.[15]

Medal of Honor citation

Army version of the Medal of Honor

The official U.S. Army citation for Murphy's Medal of Honor reads:

Second Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by six tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to a prepared position 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, one of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire, which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position,2d 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 three 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 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad that 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 his single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way back 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. 2d 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.[59]

Postwar trauma

Murphy was reportedly plagued by insomnia and bouts of depression, related to his military service. When Murphy did sleep, it was with a loaded pistol under his pillow. His first wife, Wanda Hendrix, stated that he once held her at gunpoint.[82] A post-service medical examination on June 17, 1947 revealed symptoms of headaches, vomiting, and nightmares about war. The medical record shows that sleeping pills helped prevent the nightmares.[83] Murphy found a creative stress outlet in the poems he wrote (and often discarded) during the period between the end of his active military duty and the onset of his movie career. His poem "The Crosses Grow on Anzio" appeared in his book To Hell and Back,[84] but was attributed to the fictitiously named Kerrigan.[85] For a time during the mid-1960s, he became dependent on prescribed sleeping pills called Placidyl. When he recognized that he had become addicted to the drug, he locked himself in a motel room where he took himself off the pills, going through withdrawal for a week.[15] Post-traumatic stress levels exacerbated what Murphy himself had admitted was his innate moodiness and explosive personality,[11] and surfaced in episodes that friends and co-workers found alarming.[86]

In an effort to draw attention to the problems of returning Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, Murphy spoke out candidly about his own problems with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),[87] known then and during World War II as "battle fatigue". He called on the government to give increased consideration and study to the emotional impact that combat experiences have on veterans, and to extend health care benefits to address PTSD and other mental-health problems suffered by returning war veterans.[88][89] On October 13, 1971, U.S. Congressman Olin Teague introduced legislation to name a new veterans hospital in San Antonio after Murphy.[90] The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio, Texas was dedicated in 1973 and is now a part of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.[91]

After the war, they took Army dogs and rehabilitated them for civilian life. But they turned soldiers into civilians immediately, and let 'em sink or swim.[92]

— Audie Murphy

Autobiography To Hell and Back

Murphy's 1949 autobiography To Hell and Back was ghostwritten by his friend David "Spec" McClure, already a professional writer.[93] The book has had multiple printings and been translated into the languages of Dutch, Italian, French, Norwegian and Slovene.

Film career

Main article: Audie Murphy filmography

Audie Murphy starred in 44 films throughout his career. During the 1950s and 1960s, he was cast primarily in Westerns. Murphy helped publicize his 1949 World War II memoir To Hell and Back with a radio appearance on This Is Your Life.[94][95] In 1955, he played himself in the filmTo Hell and Back. The film was the biggest hit Universal Studios had in its history. That record remained unbroken until 1975, when Steven Spielberg's Jaws became a higher-grossing film.[89][96] Murphy performed in a handful of television productions,[97] and was the star of the Whispering Smith television series. He was under consideration for the lead in the Walt Disney Studios mini-series The Swamp Fox that eventually starred Leslie Nielsen.[98][99]

His film career path started in 1945 when actor James Cagney sent him to school at the Actor's Lab in Hollywood while he was a guest in Cagney's home.[100] When his acting career did not immediately take off, Murphy began sleeping on the floor at Terry Hunt's Athletic Club where he became a friend and boxing partner of director Budd Boetticher.[101] The friends would eventually make two films together, in 1951 The Cimarron Kid, Boetticher's first Western,[102] and Murphy's last film in 1969, A Time for Dying. The latter vehicle cast Murphy as aging outlaw Jesse James, but was a financially troubled production that had a limited release in France in 1971, and did not show in the U.S. until 1982. Two other planned Murphy-Boettcher projects—A Horse for Mr Barnum and When There's Sumpthin' to Do—were never started.[103][104]

Murphy won small roles in the 1948 films Beyond Glory and Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven.[20] Bad Boy in 1949 was his first leading role.[15] When he was cast as outlaw Billy the Kid in the 1950 film The Kid from Texas, it was a financial success and earned him a 7–year contract with Universal. His next film Sierra is notable only because his love interest in the movie was played by his wife Wanda Hendrix. By 1951, they would be divorced.[101] He was lent to MGM to appear in the critically acclaimed The Red Badge of Courage, directed by John Huston. This was not a box office success.[105] Universal continuously cast Murphy in Westerns in the 1950s, including director George Marshall's 1954 Destry, based on a character created by author Max Brand.[106] Murphy took a brief break from hero roles when he appeared in No Name on the Bullet, a movie that cast him as a gun for hire who strikes fear into the hearts of townspeople.[107]

Murphy appeared in a variety of non-Westerns that included Joe Butterfly and the boxing drama World in My Corner. In 1958, he co-starred with Michael Redgrave in the Cold War drama The Quiet American.[108] He was the narrator of the 1962 Korean War drama War Is Hell, the movie Lee Harvey Oswald was watching at the Dallas Texas Theater when he was captured after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.[109]

Through the 1960s, Murphy continued to act in mostly Westerns. Arizona Raiders in 1965 was a remake of the George Montgomery 1951 movie The Texas Rangers.[110] When his contract with Universal expired, Murphy left the studio to work for other producers. In 1966, he made Trunk to Cairo in Israel.[111] Murphy's last starring lead in a Western was 40 Guns to Apache Pass in 1967.[112]

Discography

In addition to acting, Murphy was a singer[49] who also became successful as a country music songwriter. He teamed up with musicians and composers including Guy Mitchell, Jimmy Bryant, Scott Turner, Coy Ziegler, Ray and Terri Eddlemon. Murphy's songs were recorded and released by well-known artists including Dean Martin, Eddy Arnold, Charley Pride, Jimmy Bryant, Porter Waggoner, Jerry Wallace, Roy Clark, and Harry Nilsson. His two biggest hits were "Shutters and Boards" and "When the Wind Blows in Chicago".[88]

Audie Murphy and his co-writers produced seventeen songs:[113]

Year Title Writers Recorded by
1962 "Shutters and Boards" Audie Murphy and Scott Turner Numerous artists, including Jerry Wallace, Dean Martin, Porter Waggoner, Jimmy Dean, Johnny Mann Singers, and Teresa Brewer[114]
1962 "When the Wind Blows in Chicago" Audie Murphy and Scott Turner Bobby Bare, Roy Clark, Eddy Arnold and Jerry Wallace[115]
1962 "Please Mr. Music Man Play a Song for Me" Audie Murphy and Scott Turner Harry Nilsson and Dick Contino
1962 "Foolish Clock" Audie Murphy and Scott Turner Harry Nilsson
1962 "Leave the Weeping to the Willow Tree" Audie Murphy and Scott Turner Bonnie Guitar
1962 "The Only Light I Ever Need is You" Audie Murphy, Guy Mitchell, and Scott Turner Jerry Wallace and Harry Nilsson
1963 "Go On and Break My Heart" Audie Murphy and Scott Turner Wilton and Welcon
1963 "Willie the Hummer" Audie Murphy and Scott Turner Jerry Wallace
1963 "My Lonesome Room" Audie Murphy, Guy Mitchell, and Scott Turner Roy Clark
1963 "If There is a Short Cut to Nowhere (I'll Take It)" Audie Murphy and Scott Turner Dorsey Burnette (unreleased)
1964 "Pedro's Guitar" Audie Murphy and Scott Turner Jimmy Bryant
1964 "Big, Big Day Tomorrow" Audie Murphy, Coy Ziegler, and Scott Turner Jerry Wallace (unreleased)
1964 "Elena, Goodbye" Audie Murphy and Scott Turner Jimmy Bryant
1965 "Round and Round She Goes" Audie Murphy, Coy Ziegler, and Scott Turner Jerry Wallace
1966 "Rattle Dance" Audie Murphy, Scott Turner and Ivan J. Bryant Jimmy Bryant
1969 "Dusty Old Helmet" Audie Murphy and Scott Turner unrecorded
1970 "Was It All Worth Losing You" Audie Murphy Terry Eddleman, Charlie Pride[116]

Personal life

Family

Murphy bought a house in Farmersville, Texas in August 1945 for his oldest sister Corrine and husband Poland Burns and their three children. Murphy also arranged that his siblings Nadine, Billie, and Joe stay at Poland and Corrine's home. However, six children proved too difficult for Corrine and Poland, and Murphy took his three siblings to live with him.[15]

He married actress Wanda Hendrix in 1949, and they were divorced in 1951.[117] He then married former airline stewardess Pamela Archer, by whom he had two children: Terrance Michael "Terry" Murphy (born 1952) and James Shannon "Skipper" Murphy (born 1954). They were named for two of his most respected friends, Terry Hunt and James "Skipper" Cherry, respectively.[14] Hunt was the owner of Terry Hunt's Athletic Club, where Murphy slept before his film career gained momentum.[101]

After her husband died, Pamela Murphy was obligated to pay Audie's debts. She moved into a small apartment and got a clerk position at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Los Angeles, where she remained employed for 35 years, until she was 87 years old. She unofficially adopted all the veterans who passed through the doors, and devoted her life to their care. She died in 2010.[118]

Attempted carjacking

Murphy made the news in December 1946 for successfully thwarting carjack suspect John Thomas Daniels, who outweighed Murphy by over 50 pounds and was several inches taller. The incident happened in McKinney County, Texas where Murphy gave a ride to hitchhiker Daniels. The 25-year-old suspect struck Murphy and demanded his car. According to Murphy, "We fought all over the place for about 10 minutes." Murphy broke free and called the police. The police and Murphy apprehended the suspect who by then was trying to rob a local woman.[119]

Horses

Murphy bred quarter horses at the Audie Murphy Ranch in Perris, California (33°41′00″N 117°12′53″W / 33.6833551°N 117.2147573°W / 33.6833551; -117.2147573)[120] and Murphy Ranch in Pima County, Arizona (31°56′33″N 110°36′44″W / 31.9425831°N 110.6123020°W / 31.9425831; -110.6123020).[121] He loved racing his horses at the Del Mar Racetrack and invested large sums of money in the hobby.[122]

Finances

Murphy earned a great deal of money in his life as an actor and as part owner of the Great Western Arms Company, but also had a major gambling habit which meant his finances were in a poor state for the last years of his life. One friend estimated Murphy lost $3 million through gambling.[123] In 1968 his film career had dried up, and he declared bankruptcy.[15] When he filed for bankruptcy, he stated that he lost $260,000 in an Algerian oil deal and was dealing with Internal Revenue Service over unpaid taxes. In spite of his financial difficulties, Murphy refused to do commercials for alcohol and cigarettes, mindful of the influence he would have on the youth market.[124]

A May 18, 1970 attempt to mediate a service overcharge between a female friend of Murphy's and her dog trainer David Gofstein led to the actor's arrest. The unnamed friend of Murphy's allegedly telephoned him after she was unable to resolve the issue herself. Golfstein said that Murphy arrived with the client and a boxer who was never named. The alleged victim said he had been beaten and shot at, and that his wife had been roughed up. He also said Murphy stuck a gun in his stomach and tried to abduct him. Golfstein said he broke free, and Murphy shot at him. Murphy was arrested ten days later by police in Burbank, California and charged with suspicion of assault and attempt to commit murder.[125] When Murphy came to trial in October 1970, he entered a plea of possession of a blackjack, in addition to battery and assault.[126]

Death and commemorations

Murphy's headstone at Arlington National Cemetery

On May 28, 1971, Murphy was killed when the private plane in which he was a passenger crashed into Brush Mountain, near Catawba, Virginia, 20 miles west of Roanoke, Virginia in conditions of rain, clouds, fog and zero visibility.[7] The pilot and four other passengers were also killed.[127] The aircraft was a twin-engine Aero Commander 680 flown by a pilot who had a private-pilot license and a reported 8,000 hours of flying time, but who held no instrument rating. The aircraft was recovered on May 31, 1971.[128] In 1975, a court awarded Murphy's widow and two children $2.5 million in damages due to the accident.[129][130]

Monument at the site of the plane crash in which Audie Murphy died

On June 7, 1971, Murphy was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. The official U.S. representative at the ceremony was decorated World War II veteran and future President George H. W. Bush. Murphy's grave site is in Section 46, headstone number 46-366-11, located across Memorial Drive from the Amphitheater. A special flagstone walkway was later constructed to accommodate the large number of people who visit to pay their respects. It is the second most-visited grave site, after that of President John F. Kennedy.[14]

The headstones of Medal of Honor recipients buried at Arlington National Cemetery are normally decorated in gold leaf. Murphy previously requested that his stone remain plain and inconspicuous, like that of an ordinary soldier.[20] The 100th United States Congress, as part of its military funding appropriations Public Law 100-456, passed legislation authorizing a monument honoring the entire Third Infantry Division to be placed at Arlington National Cemetery. The legislation was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush on September 29, 1988.[131] The nine-ton Third Infantry Division Monument obelisk sits to the north of Audie Murphy's grave.[132]

In 1974, a large granite marker was erected at 37°21′52″N 80°13′33″W / 37.364554°N 80.225748°W / 37.364554; -80.225748 (Audie Murphy's headstone) at 3,100' elevation, near the crash site.[133]

Honors and awards

Main article: Audie Murphy honors and awards

Murphy was not only one of the most decorated soldiers in American history, but he was also the recipient of civilian honors both during his lifetime and posthumously. Among his movie career recognitions was a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,[134] and at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.[135]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Kingston, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  2. ^ "Service Documents, part 1" (PDF). Audie L. Murphy Memorial. Retrieved February 14, 2013.Murphy's date of birth has been given as both 1925 and 1924, by Murphy himself. He seemed to go back and forth on the dates for the rest of his life. Accompanying his June 29, 1942 enlistment record, is a notarized document signed on June 26, 1942, by his sister Corinne Burns as his "nearest living kin", attesting that he was born June 20, 1924.
  3. ^ "Texas Legislative Medal of Honor" (PDF). 82nd Texas Legislature. State of Texas. He later said his mother, who died in 1941, died when he was 16, which would put his birth year at 1925. His date of birth on military records, and on his tombstone at Arlington National Cemetery, is listed as 1924. The 82nd Texas Legislature referenced a 1925 birth date and said the 1924 date was a misrepresentation by Murphy.
  4. ^ "Application to join N. Hollywood Freemasons" (PDF). AudieMurphy.com. Retrieved February 10, 2913. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)When he applied for membership in the North Hollywood Freemason Lodge 542 in 1954, he gave his date of birth as 1924.
  5. ^ "California driver's license for Audie Murphy" (PDF). Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website. Retrieved February 13, 2013.His California driver's license showed a birth date of 1925.
  6. ^ a b c Simpson, Harold B. "Audie Leon Murphy". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Biographical Sketch of Audie Leon Murphy, June 20, 1925 – May 28, 1971". Audie Murphy Research Foundation. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help) Cite error: The named reference "ammem" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Newsletter number 6" (PDF). Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  9. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 143.
  10. ^ "Celeste, Texas". Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  11. ^ a b Murphy 2002, pp. 4–7.
  12. ^ a b c Murphy 2002, p. 7.
  13. ^ Minor, David. "Boles Home". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  14. ^ a b c Hundley, Pansy (2011). Around Farmersville. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 117–125. ISBN 978-0-7385-7971-9.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Tate, J. R (2006). Walkin' with the Ghost Whisperers. Stackpole Books. pp. 149–163. ISBN 978-0-8117-4544-4. Cite error: The named reference "JRTate" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  16. ^ a b Murphy 2002, p. 8.
  17. ^ a b c "Sergeant Audie Murphy Club". audiemurphy.com.
  18. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 8, 9.
  19. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 9.
  20. ^ a b c d e f "Historical Information – Audie Murphy". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  21. ^ a b c Murphy 2002, p. 11.
  22. ^ a b Murphy 2002, p. 15.
  23. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 34.
  24. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 37.
  25. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 39.
  26. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 54.
  27. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 56.
  28. ^ a b Ciment, James D (2006). The Home Front Encyclopedia: United States, Britain, and Canada in World Wars I and II. ABC-CLIO. pp. 673–675. ISBN 978-1-57607-849-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 80.
  30. ^ a b c Nowak, Udo W (July 21, 1968). "Murphy Had Extra Points But No Home To Go To" (PDF). Montgomery Journal. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  31. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 85.
  32. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 81, 82, 85.
  33. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 86.
  34. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 95.
  35. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 96.
  36. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 104–108.
  37. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 109.
  38. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 117–119.
  39. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 133, 134.
  40. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 137, 146.
  41. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 150.
  42. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 162, 163.
  43. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 169.
  44. ^ Jeffers, H. P (2003). The 100 Greatest Heroes. Citadel. pp. 96–98. ISBN 978-0-8065-2476-4.
  45. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 171.
  46. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 173–174.
  47. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 176–178.
  48. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 178.
  49. ^ a b Graham, Don (June 1989). "The Story of Audie Murphy". Texas Monthly. 17 (6): 107, 108, 132, 149, 150, 151.
  50. ^ a b c Fisch, Arnold G (2006). The Story of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps: The Backbone of the Army. Dept of the Army. p. 333. ISBN 978-0-16-067868-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  51. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 182–183.
  52. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 185–188.
  53. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 192, 194.
  54. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 196.
  55. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 47, 193.
  56. ^ a b Murphy 2002, p. 202.
  57. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 220.
  58. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 224–226.
  59. ^ a b "Medal of Honor recipients". World War II (M–S). United States Army Center of Military History. June 27, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  60. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 228.
  61. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 232.
  62. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 232, 233.
  63. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 238,239.
  64. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 240.
  65. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 242.
  66. ^ O'Neal, Bill (2010). East Texas in World War II. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 33, 34. ISBN 978-0-7385-8464-5.
  67. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 240, 241.
  68. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 243.
  69. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 244, 245, 247.
  70. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 253.
  71. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 254.
  72. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 259.
  73. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 262.
  74. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 263.
  75. ^ Murphy 2002, pp. 265–268.
  76. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 270.
  77. ^ Inc, Time (1945-07-16). Life magazine, July 16, 1945. Front cover, pp. 94–97. Retrieved February 10, 2013. {{cite book}}: |author1= has generic name (help); Unknown parameter |nopp= ignored (|no-pp= suggested) (help)
  78. ^ Willbanks, James H (2011). America's heroes : Medal of Honor Recipients from the Civil War to Afghanistan. ABC-CLIO. p. 234. ISBN 978-1-59884-394-1.
  79. ^ ""War" excerpt about Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta's actions". Stars and Stripes. September 10, 2010. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  80. ^ a b Oettinger, Callie (January 26, 2011). "Focus On Audie Murphy". Command Posts. MacMillan.
  81. ^ Spiller, Roger J (2010). "Man Against Fire:Audie Murphy and His War". The Texas Military Experience: From the Texas Revolution Through World War II. Texas A&M University Press. pp. 137–154. ISBN 978-1-60344-197-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  82. ^ Curtis, Tony (2009). American Prince: A Memoir. Three Rivers Press. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-307-40856-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  83. ^ Redfern 2007, pp. 67, 68.
  84. ^ Murphy 2002, p. 125.
  85. ^ Simpson, Harold B. (1975). Audie Murphy, American Soldier. Hill Jr. College Press. pp. 373–376. ISBN 978-0-912172-20-0.
  86. ^ Redfern 2007, pp. 65, 67, 68.
  87. ^ Redfern 2007, p. 60.
  88. ^ a b Rosen Ph.D., David M (2012). Child Soldiers. ABC-CLIO,. pp. 149–151. ISBN 978-1-59884-526-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  89. ^ a b O'Reilly, Bill (2010). Pinheads and Patriots: Where You Stand in the Age of Obama. William Morrow. pp. 163–165. ISBN 978-0-06-195071-1. Cite error: The named reference "Patriots" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  90. ^ Teague, Congressman Olin (October 13, 1971). "Designating the Veteran's Administration Hospital in San Antonio Texas As the Audie L. Murphy Veterans' Memorial Hospital". Congressional Record. Washington, D.C.: Audie L. Murphy Memorial Webwite. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  91. ^ "About Us - South Texas Veterans Health Care System". South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS). Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  92. ^ Donovan, Dick (October 17, 1989). "Tragedy of America's greatest hero". Weekly World News: 43.
  93. ^ Rose, Kenneth (2007). Myth and the Greatest Generation: A Social History of Americans in World War II. Routledge. p. 277. ISBN 978-0-415-95676-5.
  94. ^ "This is Your Life". Jim Davidson's Classic TV Info. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  95. ^ Willis, Larryann. "The Mystery of the Mythical This Is Your Life Show" (PDF). Newsletter of the Audie Murphy Research Foundatin. 9: 6–12.
  96. ^ Niemi, Robert (2006). History in the Media: Film And Television. ABC-CLIO. p. 90. ISBN 978-1-57607-952-2.
  97. ^ Audie Murphy at IMDb
  98. ^ Audie Murphy Sought for Role of "'Swamp Fox' Hopper", Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune, [Chicago, Illinois], February 9, 1959, p. B6.
  99. ^ Watts, Steven (2001). The Magic Kingdom: Walt Disney and the American Way of Life. University of Missouri. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-8262-1379-2.
  100. ^ Starr, Kevin (2003). Embattled Dreams: California in War and Peace, 1940–1950. Oxford University Press. pp. 200, 201. ISBN 978-0-19-516897-6.
  101. ^ a b c Nott, Robert (2005). Last of the Cowboy Heroes: The Westerns of Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, and Audie Murphy. McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 1–3, 42–57, 111, 112. ISBN 978-0-7864-2261-6. Cite error: The named reference "Budd" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  102. ^ Rausch, Andrew J (2008). Fifty Filmmakers: Conversations With Directors from Roger Avary to Steven Zaillian. McFarland & Co. pp. 38, 39. ISBN 978-0-7864-3149-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  103. ^ Graham p310
  104. ^ Boggs, Johnny D (2011). Jesse James and the Movies. McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 189–194. ISBN 978-0-7864-4788-6.
  105. ^ Herzberg, Bob (2008). Savages and Saints: The Changing Image of American Indians in Westerns. McFarland & Co. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-7864-3446-6.
  106. ^ Reid, John (2005). These Movies Won No Hollywood Awards. Lulu.com. pp. 50, 51. ISBN 978-1-4116-5846-2.
  107. ^ Maltin, Leonard (2008). Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide. Plume. pp. 994, 995. ISBN 978-0-452-28978-9.
  108. ^ O'Connor, John E. (2008). Why We Fought: America's Wars in Film and History. The University Press of Kentucky. pp. 407, 414, 415. ISBN 978-0-8131-2493-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  109. ^ Spencer, Lauren (2002). The Assassination of John F. Kennedy. Rosen Pub Group. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-8239-3541-3.
  110. ^ Herzberg, Bob (2005-03-30). "Frank Gruber and the Distortions of the West". Shooting Scripts: From Pulp Western To Film. Shooting Scripts: From Pulp Western to Film. pp. 79, 80. ISBN 978-0-7864-2173-2.
  111. ^ Lewis, C. Jack (2002). White Horse, Black Hat: A Quarter Century on Hollywood's Poverty Row. Scarecrow Press. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-8108-4358-5.
  112. ^ American Film Institute (1997). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films, 1961–1970. University of California Press. p. 367. ISBN 978-0-520-20970-1.
  113. ^ "Songs". Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  114. ^ "Shutters and Boards". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  115. ^ "When the Wind Blows in Chicago". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  116. ^ "Was It All Worth Losing You". allmusic.com. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  117. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (April 28, 1951). "Divorces". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2013. {{cite journal}}: |author1= has generic name (help)
  118. ^ McCarthy, Dennis (April 14, 2010). "Pam Murphy, widow of actor Audie Murphy, was veterans' friend and advocate". Daily News. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  119. ^ "130-pound Hero Fells 190-pound Holdup Suspect" (PDF). Dallas Morning News and Associated Press. Audie L. Murphy Memorial newsletter. December 11, 1946. p. 18. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  120. ^ "Audie Murphy Ranch". GNIS. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  121. ^ "Murphy Ranch, Arizona". GNIS. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  122. ^ "Newsletter, Spring 1997" (PDF). Audie Murphy Research Foundation. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  123. ^ Graham p 259
  124. ^ Scott, Bernon (September 22, 1968). "One-Time Hero Audie Murphy Is Now Broke and In Debt". Sarasota Herald Tribune. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  125. ^ "Movie Actor Faces Charges of Assault". Eugene Register-Guard. May 29, 1970. pp. 4a. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  126. ^ "Audie Murphy Goes on Trial". The Pittsburg Press. October 5, 1970. p. 6. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  127. ^ "Audie Murphy's [[Aero Commander 500 family|Aero Commander 680]]". Retrieved June 5, 2010. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  128. ^ NTSB Accident Report from Aviation Accident Database NTSB File 3-1752
  129. ^ $2.5 Million Awarded to Family of Audie Murphy Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] December 13, 1975: 12.
  130. ^ Obituary Variety, June 2, 1971, p. 55.
  131. ^ "Third Infantry Division Memorial" (PDF). Public Law 100-456, 100th Congress. United States Government. p. 202.
  132. ^ "3rd Infantry Division Monument". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  133. ^ "Audie Murphy Memorial Marker". Audie Murphy Research Foundation. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  134. ^ "Audie Murphy star". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  135. ^ "Texas Hall of Fame: Our Members". Retrieved February 17, 2013.

References

  • Fagen, Herb (2003). The Encyclopedia of Westerns. New York: Facts On File. ISBN 978-0-8160-4456-6.
  • Gossett, Sue (1966). The Films and Career of Audie Murphy. NC: Empire Publishing.
  • Graham, Don (1989). No Name on the Bullet. New York: Viking.
  • Murphy, Audie (2002). To Hell and Back. New York: Henry Holt and Co. ISBN 978-0-8050-7086-6. OCLC 48951019. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Whiting, Charles (2000). American Hero. Eskdale Publishing. ISBN 0-7505-1908-8.
  • Redfern, Nick (2007). Celebrity Secrets Official Government Files on the Rich and Famous. New York: Paraview Pocket Books. ISBN 978-1-4165-2866-1. OCLC 85481376. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Magazines
  • "Super GI", Life Magazine. World War II Special Issue; Vol 8, number 6, Spring–Summer 1985, 28.

Media related to Audie Murphy at Wikimedia Commons

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