76 years ago, Audie Murphy earned his Medal of Honor with nothing but a burning tank destroyer’s .50 cal and insane bravery

On January 26, 1945, the most decorated service member of World War II earned his legacy in a fiery fashion. https://taskandpurpose.com/story/history/audie-murphy-medal-honor/

2/ Audie Murphy joined the Texas National Guard after earning the Medal of Honor on active duty. He became quite famous as an actor in several western movies, in the movie version of "Red Badge of Courage", and played himself in the Hollywood version of his war service in the

3/ movie titled "To Hell and Back."

Murphy’s bravery also earned him a spot in the history books as one of the most highly-decorated heroes in U.S. military history — and set a new standard for courage under fire in the process.

4/ Medal of Honor Citation:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Audie Leon Murphy, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above

5/ and beyond the call of duty on 26 January 1945, while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action at Holtzwihr, France. Second Lieutenant Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by six tanks and waves of infantry.

6/ Second Lieutenant 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, one of our tank destroyers received a direct hit

7/ and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. Second Lieutenant Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, Second Lieutenant Murphy climbed on the burning tank

8/ destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machinegun 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

9/ tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate Second Lieutenant 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

10/ reached as close as ten 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

11/ counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. Second Lieutenant Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible

12/ encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.