The Story of Audie Murphy The Most Decorated Soldier In American History

11/10/22

Early Life and Background

  • Born in 1925 in Kingston, Texas
  • Raised in a small rural town in northeastern Texas
  • 7th of 12 children in an Irish descent family
  • Sharecroppers during the Great Depression
  • Father left when he was 15 and mother passed away a year later

Interest in Guns and Military

  • Learned to handle a gun at an early age
  • Dreamed of joining the Marines but was rejected due to his size
  • Convinced the Army to accept him despite his diminutive frame
  • Joined the third infantry division
  • Developed marksmanship skills in the woods of Northeast Texas

Combat and Heroism

  • Received the Medal of Honor at the age of 19
  • Held off a company of German soldiers for an hour in France
  • Recognized by his men for saving their lives
  • Defeated the enemy single-handedly
  • Received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army

Post-War Life and Acting Career

  • Returned home from Europe as a hero
  • Greeted with parades and banquets
  • Featured on the cover of Life Magazine
  • Invited to Hollywood by actor James Cagney
  • Started a 21-year acting career

Tragic End and Legacy

  • Died in a plane crash in 1971
  • Ended the life of one of America's greatest heroes
  • Legacy of courage and strength lives on
  • Forever grateful as a nation
  • Most decorated soldier in American history


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