Audie Murphy

American soldier, actor, songwriter (1925–1971)

Audie Leon Murphy (June 20, 1925 in Kingston, Hunt County, Texas – May 28, 1971 in Brush Mountain near Roanoke, Virginia), was an American actor and soldier who fought during World War II. He was given the Medal of Honor.

Audie Murphy
Murphy wearing the U.S. Army khaki "Class A" (tropical service) uniform with full-size medals, 1948
Born(1925-06-20)20 June 1925[1]
Kingston, Texas, U.S.
Died28 May 1971(1971-05-28) (aged 45)
14 nautical miles northwest of Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
Buried atArlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch
Years of service
Rank
Service number
  • 18083707 (as enlisted man)[2]
  • 01692509 (as officer)[3][2]
Unit
Battles/wars
Awards
Other work
  • Actor
  • songwriter
  • rancher
SignatureAudie Murphy
Website
audiemurphy.com

Biography change

Murphy was of Irish descent. His was the son of Berry Emmett Murphy and Josie Bell Killian. He grew up on farms near Farmersville and Greenville, Texas. When his father left the family, Audie stopped his studies at primary school in fifth grade to help support his family.

Murphy joined the Army in 1942. His first assignment was being sent to Morocco as a replacement in the 3rd Platoon in 1943. Audie Murphy was very good in several battles. In Italy, his abilities as a combat infantryman earned him promotions and decorations for his heroism. After being wounded in combat, Murphy was removed from the battlefield and promoted to Lieutenant. The Lieutenant General Alexander Patch, commander of the Army, gave him the Medal of Honour. Audie Murphy also received 33 U.S. medals for his courage and heroism in battle.

Career change

Audie Murphy began his acting career in 1948, in the comedy movie Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven. It was directed by William Castle. Murphy has been one of the best known Hollywood actors in westerns movies. He played the role the legendary "Billy the Kid" in The Kid from Texas (1950) directed by Kurt Neumann, and then playing another legend Jesse James in Kansas Raiders (1950), by Ray Enright. His greatest successes were Westerns was The Duel at Silver Creek (1952), by Don Siegel, Gunsmoke (1953) and Drums Across the River (1954) directed by Nathan Juran, Destry (1954) and The Guns of Fort Petticoat (1957) directed by George Marshall, Night Passage (1957) with James Stewart, The Unforgiven (1960) with Burt Lancaster, Gunfight at Comanche Creek (1963) one of his best movies. Murphy also had a television series Whispering Smith (1961). In it he played the role of Tom 'Whispering' Smith, for 26 episodes of the TV Western.

Another of his great works for the movies were war movies, such as To Hell and Back (1955) by Jesse Hibbs. It was a biography of his story during World War II.

Related pages change

References change

 
Medal of Honor
  1. Smith 2015, pp. 1, 12–13.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Reyna, Charmaine (25 January 2013). "Lead From The Front: Sergeant Audie Murphy Study Guide" (PDF). Fort Lee. pp. 20–21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  3. Audie Murphy's Medal of Honor citation (War Department GO 45, 9 August 1945)

Other websites change

  Media related to Audie Murphy at Wikimedia Commons