Audie L. Murphy

(http://www.audiemurphy.com/)

The Congressional Medal of Honor is highest combat decoration that only the bravest and most heroic soldiers are awarded. Audi L. Murphy is one of those soldiers and the medal of honor is just one of his thirty seven medals, the most that has ever been given to one soldier in U.S history. Audi L. Murphy is a hero because he was brave and showed leadership to his fellow soldiers; he also saved many lives during the war.

Murphy was born on June 20, 1924 in Kingston Texas and lived with his 11 siblings and parents Pat and Josie Murphy. Murphy's family were sharecroppers so Murphy was hoeing and picking cotton at a very young age along with his brothers and sister, Murphy said looking back on his childhood "it was a full time job just existing"(Murphy, Audie 1924-1971) . Murphy's family did not have a lot of money so he rarely went to school in order to help his family but he was determined to do something big with his life. When Murphy was seventeen his mother passed away and he tried to join the marines and army but was denied due to his age and skinny baby faced appearance. When he turned eighteen the army accepted him and he was deployed to North Africa. Murphy earned his first medal in 1944 on his deployment to Sicily when he destroyed a German tank by himself it is at this time that Murphy began to distinguish himself as a hero.

Audie L. Murphy is a deserving hero because in times of chaos he stood up and led the way when others could not. During the fall of 1944 in France Murphy and other U.S soldiers were fighting German troops when his commanding officer was shot. With no one to lead the troops Murphy took control. Although they eventually they were forced to retreat no one was killed thanks to Murphy's courage's acts on the battle field. Murphy later states, "Sometimes it takes more to get up and run than to stay. You either just do or you don't. I got so scared the first day in combat I just decided to go along with it."(Audie Murphy encyclopedia of world biography) Murphy is saying you have a choice to do things that take a lot of courage and sometimes it takes more courage to run from your challenges than to be strong and take them head on due to the fact that you look like a coward. Murphy later earned a Silver Star for the act of leadership.

Murphy also proved himself as hero on January 26, 1945 when he was given the task of fighting off over two hundred German infantry and six German tanks with under two dozen U.S soldiers and two tanks. When the battle began Murphy's machine gun squad was wiped out and there anti tank gun was hit by artillery. This made the troops almost totally defenseless against the advancing Germans. Murphy then ordered his men to retreat while he stayed on the front line and directed artillery. Murphy spotted the anti tank gun that although had been hit by artillery look intact. Murphy ran to the gun and started firing and by the end of the bloody battle he had killed or wounded almost fifty German troops and they had no choice but to retreat. Don Graham observed in his biography of Murphy, "We prefer video fantasy Rambo, a kind of MTV celebration of America machismo but Audie Murphy was the real thing and the real thing is always more interesting."(Murphy, Auide 1924-1971) This quote describes Murphy perfectly he was a brave American machine who cared little for himself and more for his brothers and their safety.

(www.flickr.com/photos/egearing/4581458126)

The third reason Murphy is a deserving hero is his determination to fight and win. During the fall of Germany Murphy and his friend had to takeout a hill spotted with machine gun nests. Murphy and his friend made their way up the hill destroying the nests as they went but on one of the nests two Germans came out to surrender. As Murphy's friend approached them they shot him. Filled with rage Murphy killed the remaining Germans and cleared the way for the allies. Do to these acts of valor and heroism he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Even after the death of his close friend Murphy continued to fight and save lives.

Audie L. Murphy is a hero for many reasons but most of all he was courageous and was a leader even when he did not have to be. After all Murphy went through he eventually retired and starred in low budget war movies. Murphy was tortured by nightmares the rest of his life and died in a plane crash on May, 28, 1971 but his memory and inspiration lives on.

Works consulted

Murphy, Audie (1924-1971)." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Gale

 Biography In Context. Web. 8 May 2012.

"Audie Murphy." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2nd ed. Vol. 18. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 299-

            301. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 May 2012.