World War II's Most Decorated Soldier
Audie L. Murphy
A grateful nation still mourns the loss of its favorite son.
Audie L. Murphy
20 June 1924 - 28 May 1971
Congressional Medal of Honor
Citation:
Second Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy, 01692509, 15th Infantry, Army of the United States, on 26 January 1945, near Holtzihr France, commanded Company B, which was attacked by six tanks and waves of infantry.
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 on of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods.
Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the tanks abreast of his position, Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up any instant, 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 Lt. 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 reached as close as 10 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 counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he personally killed or wounded about 50.
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.
Audie Murphy 'Follow Me...' Statue on the grounds of the SA Tex VA Hospital
(Information and Photo Provided by the Audie L. Murphy Veterans Hospital San Antonio Texas)
Click on the Banner Below For the Entire Audie L. Murphy Story
