Town to unveil likeness of hero - Audie Murphy

The Dallas Morning News ^ | June 21, 2002 | By KELLIE B. GORMLY / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

[WhiskeyPapa]

As I recall, Murphy used the .50 cal machine gun on the turret of a disabled tank destroyer to engage the approaching Germans and break up their attack. That TD could have exploded at any time. That took some nerve.Walt

[rageaholic]

Remember that Audie represents hundreds of thousands of WW2 infantrymen who were never truly recognized for their courage above and beyond the call of duty.

Remember them and the sacrifices they made when the Government tells us they can't stop the next terrorist assault on the USA or when they tell you they cannot provide enough bomb detection equipment to airports.

We still have these kinds of people in the USA, we just lack the kind of leadership and moral clarity of their generation.

[Stand Watch Listen]

FYI...

[Stand Watch Listen]

You may be interested in this thread...bio/pics/war citations..etc.

USO Canteen FReeper Style....Audie Murphy Day....June 20,2002

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We could use a few more Audie Murphys.

[KentuckyWoman]

A bump and a bookmark for my childhood hero! Heck, who am I trying to kid? He's STILL my hero!!

[Johnny Gage]

Bumping some Canteeners who'd like this too

Dave

[Aeronaut]

Thanks for the Ping.

[jbstrick]

"We could use a few more Audie Murphys."

We do, They just don't know it yet..

[TigersEye]

I was reading an excerpt of Audies heroism to my better half, .30Carbine, last night. The tank destroyer was on fire at the time so it definitely was in danger of blowing up at anytime. At the same time he was on a radio relaying enemy troop positions to an artillery group I believe. I read a more detailed account of this action somewhere else just recently. Can't remember where. But it just gets more and more amazing as the story gets fleshed out. He truly didn't consider himself a hero. A true mark of one in my book. Here's to all the countless Audie Murphys who have, are and will lay it all on the line for our country. Especially those who laid it down and never got to pick it back up.

[Blue Screen of Death]

I certainly hope the statue does not depict Audie Murphy as a white male just because he was. This statue should represent a diverse multi-cultural, sexual orientation optional society.

[barker]

When I was a kid I went to every Audie Murphy movie I could, as many times as I could. I loved the guy. Him and John Wayne. When they came riding in you knew the bad guys would pay dearly.

There are many more Audie Murphys out there and I hope we hear about them too.

[maximus@Nashville]

Murphy was wounded (his third) while on that Tank Destroyer. He had ordered all his men to cover in the woods and stood alone firing the .50 BMG until all the ammo had been expended. He then went back to the woods line and used a field telephone to call in artilley fire.

Murphy starred in his own life story "To Hell and Back" based on his auto-biography of the same name. It covers the majority of his exploits (including this episode) quite truthfully. Murphy himself demanded it. The only change I am aware of is in the movie, a friend was shot causing Murphy to go mad with anger. In reality his friend was killed by artillery fire while at Anzio. No part of his body was ever found.

As a Medal of Honor winner, Murphy was entitled to be saluted first by higher ranks. He never insisted on it with the exception of General Mark Clark, the Italian Theater commander. When asked why, Murphy replied "A lot of good men died on that beachhead while Clark sat on his ass."

A stature to Murphy is long overdue, not only as an individual, but as an example of the infantrymen who foaught the war. Murphy had been turned down as too "frail" by the Marines, the Navy and the Paratroops. He also had worked his way up thru the ranks before being given his battlefield comission. His wounds were such that he could no longer stay in the Army and lost his appointment to West Point.

In the post war years he went to Los Angeles and was working at a gym when he was noticed by a director while showering. He was still slight and had gone un-noticed while dressed. It was only after seeing him nude, and the evidence of his wounds (he had lost one buttocks)that the director asked who he was. Murphy was then approached about the movie business, shortly after starring in his first film, "The Red Badge of Courage" a film for which many thought he should have received the Academy Award.

While his hometown is a good place for a statue of him, I would like to see it in DC as the WW2 memorial.

[cactusSharp]

when John Wayne was expiring from cancer at Hoag Memorial
hospital in Newport bch,Ca....he had his tubes and life support equipment removed and thanks Audie Murphy
for "an example of courage" and passed away

heros know heros

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Red Badge was probably his best movie.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks.

[Jen]

Thanks for the ping and for a great thread. What a true hero Audie Murphy is.

[exnavy]

Cool, this is a great idea!

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

"ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA",real heros like AUDIE L.MURPHY were talked about by its people and taught to young people in her schools!To those with an interest you can see a portrayal of AUDIE L. MURPHY'S life in the movie,"TO HELL AND BACK".In the meantime we will have to settle for hollywoods crummy movies about NOTHING AND NO ONE!