Thread: Audie Murphy, Greatest US hero- 1924-71

Damn good thread.


Trivia

* Murphy's height was 5'5".

* Had only one buttock. Lost in battle.

* Was the original choice to play the Scorpio Killer in Dirty Harry.

* Had horrible nightmares and slept with a gun under his pillow.

* Purchased a Middle Eastern oil field in the 60's which was blown up during the Six Day War, causing him to file for bankruptcy.

* His highest grossing film was To Hell and Back.

* Would often say he had "no talent."

* His films earned him close to 3 million dollars in 23 years as an actor.

* Ironically, former WWII General and President Dwight Eisenhower did not enjoy Murphy's films saying his fight scenes were unbelievable due to his small stature.

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

Thank you for posting those photos. Not only was Major Murphy (he was a Major in the Texas National Guard) a true hero but I thought a very good actor. He was okay in "The Quiet American" about the start of the Viet Nam war but at his best in "Destry Rides Again".
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Red Badge of Courage?

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

He was also a stickler for detail. When he made the movie of his combat experiences "To Hell and Back", he almost refused to do the scene that won him the Medal of Honor. You see, back in WW II Murphy was firing an M-2 MG from the top of an M-18 armored vehicle. NOT and M-4 Sherman. But when it was devulged that all M-18s and M-10s (which is close) had been turned into car frames, he settled for the Sherman.

"Mail Call" had an episode that featured a "drag race" between a M36 (a M10 with a 90mm gun rather than the original 76mm) and a M18 so some had to survive, unless they were exact replicas.

Why did he die so young?

plane crash

Could someone post the citations for the other decorations awarded to Maj. Audy Murphy.

Why is he holding an MG42 in the first few pictures?

Because he took it off a dead Nazi when his weapon ran dry and kept on fighting.

Lemon, some of the following he was awarded more than once(you can see how many of each listed on his tombstone in the 1st pic of this thread) He won a total of 33 major awards for valor in combat.

• Congressional Medal of Honor
• Distinguished Service Cross(twice)
• Silver Star(twice)
• Legion of Merit
• Bronze Star(twice)
• Purple Heart(three times)
• U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal
• Good Conduct Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• Army of Occupation {German Clasp}
• Combat Infantryman Badge
• French Fourragere
• French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier
• French Croix de Guerre {with Silver Star}
• French Croix de Guerre {with Palm}
• Medal of Liberated France
• Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm

Originally Posted by parihaka

Red Badge of Courage?

The film like the Stephan Crane book of the same name is one of my favorites.

One hell of a man!

Originally Posted by parihaka

Red Badge of Courage?

RIGHT ON. I forgot about that one. His co-star was Bill Mauldin the Stars and Stripes cartoonist that created Willy and Joe.