Biography of Audie Murphy

Audie Leon Murphy was a legend in his own time. A war hero, movie actor, writer of country and western songs, and poet. His biography read more like fiction than fact. He lived only 46 years, but made a lasting impression on American history. Audie was born on a sharecropper’s farm in North Texas on June 20, 1924. As a boy, he chopped cotton for one dollar a day and was noted for his feats of daring-do and his accuracy with a gun. He had only 5 years of schooling and was orphaned at age 16. After being refused enlistment during World War II in both the Marines and Paratroopers for being too small (5’5") and underweight (110 lbs.), he enlisted in the U.S. Army a few days after his 18th birthday. After basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas, and advanced training at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, Audie was sent overseas. He was assigned to the famous 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division where he fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. He earned a battlefield commission for his courage and leadership ability, as well as, citations and decorations including every medal for valor that America gives. He was also awarded one Belgian and three French medals. Lieutenant Audie Murphy is the highest decorated soldier in American history. Discharged from the Army on September 21, 1945, Audie went to Hollywood at the invitation of movie star James Cagney. He remained in California for the rest of his life and was closely associated with the movie industry, both as an actor and a producer. He acted in 44 films starring in 39 of them. His best known film is "To Hell and Back", adapted from the best selling book of his war experiences by the same name. Most of his movies were westerns. In 1955, Audie Murphy was voted the Most Popular Western Actor in America by the Motion Picture Exhibitors. Audie wrote the lyrics to 17 country and western songs (NOTE: I understand that TRADOC Reg 600-14, TRADOC Sergeant Audie Murphy Club (SAMC), states "16", however the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Web Site, the official Audie Murphy Research Foundation website, lists "17" and this is what I choose to go with), the most popular of which was "Shutters and Boards", written with Scott Turner in 1962. The song was recorded by over 30 pop singers, including Jerry Wallace, Dean Martin, and Porter Waggoner. He was an accomplished poet; unfortunately, only a few of his poems have survived. In 1950 Audie joined the 36th Infantry Division ("T-Patchers") of the Texas National Guard and served with it until 1966. He was a Shriner (Mason) and belonged to several veterans’ organizations. Audie Murphy was killed in a plane crash on a mountaintop near Roanoke, Virginia on May 28, 1971. Fittingly, his body was recovered 2 days later on Memorial Day.


Audie Murphy's Awards

Service Number 01 692 509

  1. Medal of Honor
  2. Distinguished Service Cross
  3. Silver Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster
  4. Legion of Merit
  5. Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device and First Oak Leaf Cluster
  6. Purple Heart with Second Oak Leaf Cluster
  7. U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal
  8. Good Conduct Medal
  9. Distinguished Unit Emblem with First Oak Leaf Cluster
  10. American Campaign Medal
  11. European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France)
  12. World War II Victory Medal
  13. Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp
  14. Armed Forces Reserve Medal
  15. Combat Infantry Badge
  16. Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar
  17. Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar
  18. French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre
  19. French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier
  20. French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star
  21. French Croix de Guerre with Palm
  22. Medal of Liberated France
  23. Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm

 

Songs Written by Audie Murphy

  1. Shutters And Boards (Recorded by:  Teresa Brewer, Jimmy Dean, Dean Martin, Porter Waggoner, Jerry Wallace, Johnny Mann Singers, and many others), 1962

  2. When The Wind Blows In Chicago, 1962

  3. Please Mr. Music Man Play A Song For Me, 1962

  4. Foolish Clock, 1962

  5. Leave The Weeping To The Willow Tree, 1962

  6. The Only Light I Ever Need Is You, 1962

  7. Go On And Break My Heart, 1963

  8. Willie The Hummer. 1963

  9. My Lonesome Room, 1963

  10. Elena, Goodbye, 1964

  11. Big, Big Day Tomorrow. 1964

  12. If There Is A Short Cut To Nowhere (I'll Take It), 1964

  13. Pedro's Guitar, 1964

  14. Round And Round She Goes, 1965

  15. Rattle Dance, 1966

  16. Dusty Old Helmet, 1969

  17. Was It All Worth Losing You, 1970

 

Movies Audie Murphy Played In

  1. Beyond Glory

  2. Texas, Heaven and Brooklyn

  3. Bad Boy

  4. The Kid from Texas

  5. Sierra

  6. Kansas Raiders

  7. The Red Badge of Courage

  8. The Cimarron Kid

  9. The Duel at Silver Creek

  10. Gunsmoke

  11. Column South

  12. Tumbleweed

  13. Ride Clear of Diablo

  14. Drums Across the River

  15. Destry

  16. To Hell and Back

  17. World in My Corner

  18. Walk the Proud Land

  19. Joe Butterfly

  20. The Guns of Fort Petticoat

  21. Night Passage

  22. The Quiet American

  23. Ride a Crooked Trail

  24. The Gun Runners

  25. No Name on the Bullet

  26. The Wild and the Innocent

  27. Cast a Long Shadow

  28. The Unforgiven

  29. Hell Bent for Leather

  30. Seven Ways from Sundown

  31. Posse from Hell

  32. Battle at Bloody Beach

  33. Six Black Horses

  34. Showdown

  35. Gunfight at Comanche Creek

  36.  The Quick Gun

  37. Bullet for a Badman

  38. Apache Rifles

  39. Arizona Raiders

  40.  Gunpoint

  41.  The Texican

  42.  Trunk to Cairo

  43.  40 Guns to Apache Pass

  44.  A Time for Dying

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Find errors?  Have suggestions for improvements?  Please feel free to contact me: stuart.edick@us.army.mil