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Audie Leon Murphy, the most decorated U.S soldier of WW2, who received every military combat award for valor available from the Army, was born June 20, 1925, in Texas.
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After the Pearl Harbour attack in Dec 1941 he tried to enlist in the Army, Navy, and Marines, but was denied for being underage and underweight. His sister provided an affidavit stating he was born a year earlier than he was + he was accepted into the Army, Jun 30, 1942.
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He was sent to Morocco in Feb, 1943, and assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division. He took part in the Sicily campaign in 1943, and, after a bout of Malaria, the Italy campaign and the invasion of Southern France in 1944.
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During his service his awarded medals included 3 Purple Hearts, 3 Bronze Star medals (one with "V" device), 2 Silver Star medals, a Legion of Merit, Distinguished Service Cross, and the Medal of Honor.
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His Medal of Honor was awarded for actions undertaken on Jan 26, 1945, near Holtzwihr, N.E France. Murphy was now a 2nd Lt in command of B Co. They were attacked by 6 German tanks and infantry, who scored a direct hit on an M10 tank destroyer, forcing the crew to abandon it
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Murphy ordered his men to retreat to positions in the woods, remaining alone at his post, shooting his M1 Carbine and directing artillery fire via his field radio while under direct fire from the Germans.
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He then mounted the burning tank destroyer and began firing its .50 cal machine gun at the advancing Germans. For an hour he stood on the flamming destroyer returning fire from infantry and tanks. He sustained a leg wound and only stopped after he ran out of ammunition.
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He rejoined his men and led them back to repel the Germans. When asked later why he'd taken on an entire company of German infantry he replied "They were killing my friends"
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Audie continued in the military after the war and retired a Major from National Guard and Army Reserves.
He also had a successful acting career, and wrote his story in the book "To Hell and Back", also starring as himself in the movie.
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He also had a successful acting career, and wrote his story in the book "To Hell and Back", also starring as himself in the movie.
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He spoke publicly about his battle with PTSD and called on government to give increased study to the impact of combat experiences and to extend health care benefits to war veterans.
Audie Murphy was sadly killed in a plane crash in 1971.
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Audie Murphy was sadly killed in a plane crash in 1971.
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