Audie Murphy

He died when a private plane crashed into Brush Mountain, near Catawba, Virginia.

In 1973, Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital was named after him in San Antonio.

Audie Leon Murphy was born in Kingston, Hunt County, Texas to Emmett Berry Murphy and Josie Bell Killian. He was the seventh among twelve children and his family was of Irish descent.

He was named after two men of the same name who took care of his mother who was temporarily abandoned by his father, Emmett. His father kept coming and going, until he finally abandoned the family for good.

Murphy went to elementary school while growing up around Farmersville, Greenville and Celeste finally dropping out of school in fifth grade. He got a cotton picking job to support his family.

In 1941, Murphy’s mother passed away and he took up various jobs to survive in Greenville. His other siblings were sent to children’s homes and orphanages.

He decided to join the armed forces as a way to support his family and serve his country at the same time. He was finally inducted in the armed forces in June, 1942.

In 1943, Murphy was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, and 3rd Infantry Division and was immediately posted to French Morocco in North Africa.

In July 1943, he was promoted to the rank of ‘corporal’ as he prepared for the ‘Allied Invasion of Sicily’. The 7th Infantry Regiment finally captured and secured the port in August 1943. The same year, Murphy was promoted to the post of ‘Sergeant.’

In August 1944, he became a part of ‘Operation Dragoon’. He fought the Nazis with great valour and skill and got promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant. He, along with soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment earned the ‘Presidential Unit Citation’.

In September 1944, the 3rd Infantry Division defeated the German soldiers to invade North-eastern France. His unflinching courage in the face of death earned him several medals and awards.

He was part of one of the most devastating, colossal wars of all time - World War II. He is, till date, the most celebrated American war hero. After joining the US army in 1942, he went to North Africa as a part of the US 3rd Infantry Division. He was then part of the missions to invade Sicily and Southern France and fought the Germans, finally helping the America forces to hold the Colmar Pocket.