Iconic Yanks from a Welshmans perspective
General Discussions ( Anything Goes )
Audie Murphy is one of the greatest of American icons. He was the most decorated American soldier in World War II winning more than 33 citations; in fact, he won every military honor available at that time, and, five of those were awarded twice to this 5 foot 5 1/2 inch, 110 lb (7 Stone, 12 lb) enlisted man from a small town in Texas. What's more, this very timid, self-effacing American soldier was awarded 5 medals by the Nation of France including it's highest award, the
Legion of Honor (Grade of Chevalier) and 1 medal,
Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm, from Belgium.A partial list of military honors from the United States follows:
His principal U.S. decorations included the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars with Valor device, and three Purple Hearts (all for genuine combat wounds). Murphy participated in campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany, as denoted by his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver battle star (denoting five campaigns), four bronze battle stars, plus a bronze arrowhead representing his two amphibious assault landings at Sicily and southern France. During the French Campaign, Murphy was awarded two Presidential Citations, one from the 3rd Inf, Division, and one from the 15th Inf. Regiment during the Holtzwihr action. WikepediaAfter returning home to America he, like millions of other returning GI's, sought to integrate himself back into civilian life by going back to farm work in Texas. His wartime notoriety, however, netted him an invitation to Hollywood by film legend James Cagney. Despite an auspicious start he eventually wound up homeless, sleeping on the floor of a gymnasium in Hollywood where performed meager chores for his meals. Then,
as they say, he was "
rediscovered" and once again and given a part in a movie,
The Red Badge of Courage, in which he depicted a soldier cowering in fear as he first encountered the enemy in battle. The public was moved and even the critics heaped acclaim upon his performance.This launched Audie Murphy into a movie career which spanned the next three decades and saw him star in more than 44 productions on the silver screen. He was eventually persuaded, after relentless arm-twisting and cajoling from friends and family to star in a movie about his own life:
To Hell and Back. The film was so successful that stood it at the top of the box office heap for 3 decades until it was finally dethroned by a great white shark called Jaws. Audie Murphy never lived to see that day.He did, however, live long enough to start yet another successful career. He became a songwriter and his songs were recorded by the likes of Dean Martin, Eddy Arnold, Charley Pride, Jimmy Bryant, Porter Waggoner, Jerry Wallace, Roy Clark, Harry Nilsson and Eddie Arnold.He was killed in private plane crash in 1971.Many tourists visiting Hollywood may notice a Star honoring Audie Murphy on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. However, his grave at Arlington National Cemetery where he was buried with full military honors remains, to this very day, the second most visited grave at Arlington--second only to President John F. Kennedy. Per his instructions, his grave stone is of standard military issue, because he requested that it should "
plain and inconspicuous" and "
of the type that any ordinary soldier" would receive. A grateful country awarded this inconspicious hero his last and final request.
