His loss was a tragedy for America. He did a western movie in 1957 called Fort Petticoat. The history is wrong etc etc. but anyone looking Audie Murphy ships see it.
With the men gone from an area, he is a soldier organizing a group of women to defend a mission church.
It’s only 12 years after his WWII exploits. Watching that movie you can see a glimpse of what his leadership was like. There are plenty of moments where you can see he is less acting than just being Lt Murphy again. Things like picking and using his NCOs, dealing with cowardice or fear, organizing and leading the effort, dealing with popular unit members loss fast and moving people on.. fast. Dealing with dumb moves by people. Dealing with someone too religious that they become a drag by not doing things right etc.
I just stumbled on it, it kind of surprised me once I watched deep enough into it. When you see him barking orders, making very fast decisions etc., I think you’ll probably see the same thing I do. I think there’s a little bit of the element of him working out his PTSD. At least that’s what we would call it today.
The Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum is in Greenville, TX about 40 miles east of Dallas on I-30. Audie Murphy was born in Kingston, TX and grew up nearby in Greenville, Farmersville, and Celeste.
About 8 years ago I walked the ground where Murphy won the CMOH, fighting off a platoon of Jagdpanthers and a company of infantry from a burning, knocked out M10 tank destroyer with a .50 cal. It was an amazing event.
https://www.history.com/news/audie-murphys-world-war-ii-heroics-70-years-ago
Hate to ruin a perfectly good thread but doesn’t a US president usually lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington on Memorial Day? Haven’t seen a thing about it today!! More important plans perhaps for the important man today?
Re-reading to Hell and Back for Memorial Day weekend. In a just world there’d be an Audie Murphy Day. Fort Petticoat is a great movie, also like Posse From Hell.
On you tube you can see Audie in some non-westerns like World in my Corner and The Gun Runners.
— Alone and Far Removed -—
Alone and far removed from earthly care
The noble ruins of men lie buried here.
You were strong men, good men
Endowed with youth and much the will to live.
I hear no protest from the mute lips of the dead.
They rest: there is no more to give.
So long my comrades,
Sleep ye where you fell upon the field.
But tread softly please
March O’er my heart with ease.
March on and on,
But to God alone we kneel.
. . . - Audie Murphy
What a tribute to him. He deserved it.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.
Fading light, dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright. From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.
Thanks and praise, for our days,
'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky.
As we go, this we know, God is nigh.
Sun has set, shadows come,
Time has fled, we must go to our rest.
Always true to the promises we've made.
Fading light, dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar, drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Even at that young age, the film made a lasting impression on me.
It's a good film to show all young Citizens of this amazing Country.
List of songs written by Audie Murphy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_written_by_Audie_Murphy
Audie Murphy earned a Medal of Honor, a DSC, two Silver Stars, a Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Stars, 3 Purple Hearts, a (French) Legion of Honour, four French Croixs de Guerre, a Belgian Croix de Guerre, and a battlefield commission in the War against Hitlerism, and still managed to come home to the US before his 21st birthday.
If the Anti’s had their way, he wouldn’t have been able to buy a Ruger 10/22 .22-caliber rimfire squirrel rifle until he turned 21.
Thank you for this tread. I remember how upset my father was when the plane crashed, and in our own state. His comments at the time caused me to pay attention and learn who this man was. It was hard to see old movies back then, but I ended up watching his starring performance in the red badge of courage. He made a big impression that I’ve never forgotten