caboose84
NES Member
A story for today- 75 years ago- 26 January 1945, Colmar pocket, France.
Audie Murphy, named that day as company commander, ordered his men to fall back in the face of a German attack, then climbed onto a burning M10 Tank Destroyer to fire it's machine gun on an attacking company. He killed or wounded 50 Germans and was wounded himself. After an hour when he ran out of ammunition he rejoined his men, and led them in a counterattack to repel the enemy advance.
When asked why he climbed onto the burning hulk to fight the Germans he replied "they were killing my friends".
For that days action he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was 19 years old.
He quit school in the fifth grade to help support his family after his father had left. His mother died in 1941 when he was 16. With the help of his sister he lied about his age to join the army in 1942.
He began fighting in June 1943 in the invasion of Sicily, then fought in Italy and France. In addition to the Medal of Honor he earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star (twice), the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star (twice), the Purple Heart (3 times) and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. That was every combat medal the US Army awarded during WW2.
For the rest of his life he was affected by what we now call PTSD and advocated for help for his fellow veterans. He acted in westerns, wrote songs and bred quarter horses. Later in life he faced financial difficulties, but declined offers to appear in tobacco or alcohol ads as "he didn't want to set a bad example".
He died in a plane crash in 1971 and was buried with full military honors in Arlington Cemetery. Medal of Honor winner's tombstones are normally decorated with gold leaf, but early on he requested his tombstone be carved plainly, like an ordinary soldiers.
Balls of steel and a legacy of decency and honor.
Be worthy.
Audie Murphy, named that day as company commander, ordered his men to fall back in the face of a German attack, then climbed onto a burning M10 Tank Destroyer to fire it's machine gun on an attacking company. He killed or wounded 50 Germans and was wounded himself. After an hour when he ran out of ammunition he rejoined his men, and led them in a counterattack to repel the enemy advance.
When asked why he climbed onto the burning hulk to fight the Germans he replied "they were killing my friends".
For that days action he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was 19 years old.
He quit school in the fifth grade to help support his family after his father had left. His mother died in 1941 when he was 16. With the help of his sister he lied about his age to join the army in 1942.
He began fighting in June 1943 in the invasion of Sicily, then fought in Italy and France. In addition to the Medal of Honor he earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star (twice), the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star (twice), the Purple Heart (3 times) and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. That was every combat medal the US Army awarded during WW2.
For the rest of his life he was affected by what we now call PTSD and advocated for help for his fellow veterans. He acted in westerns, wrote songs and bred quarter horses. Later in life he faced financial difficulties, but declined offers to appear in tobacco or alcohol ads as "he didn't want to set a bad example".
He died in a plane crash in 1971 and was buried with full military honors in Arlington Cemetery. Medal of Honor winner's tombstones are normally decorated with gold leaf, but early on he requested his tombstone be carved plainly, like an ordinary soldiers.
Balls of steel and a legacy of decency and honor.
Be worthy.
