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To: snippy_about_it; All


Audie Murphy used a Ma Deuce in earning his Medal of Honor

Second Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy, 01692509, 15th Infantry, Army of the United States, on 26 January 1945, near Holtzwihr, France, commanded Company B, which was attacked by six tanks and waves of infantry. Lieutenant Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to a prepared position in a woods while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him to his right one of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. It's crew withdrew to the woods.

Lieutenant Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, Lieutenant Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer which was in danger of blowing up any instant and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to the German fire from three sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminated Lieutenant Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw.

His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he personally killed or wounded about 50. Lieutenant Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.

59 posted on 08/29/2003 11:34:53 AM PDT by SAMWolf (I'm So miserable Without You, It's Like Having You Here)
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To: SAMWolf
Wow SAM. I didn't know that about Audie Murphy, thanks! Nice picture, too.
61 posted on 08/29/2003 12:44:41 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our troops)
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To: SAMWolf
Sam, my mother taught HS English to ALL of the Murphy kids in the 1930s.

she still talks about his HIJINKS! and was VERY proud of him.

SADLY, he was NOT well-liked by the townsfolk at home because his family "pulled onions" for a very poor living. when he came home from war, he was asked NOT to visit his sisters on the campus & was NOT given a homecoming party.

the TXARNG rememied that ommission in the late sixites!

free dixie,sw

99 posted on 09/01/2003 4:02:18 PM PDT by stand watie (Resistence to tyrants is obedience to God. -Thomas Jefferson)
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To: SAMWolf
Sam, my mother taught HS English to ALL of the Murphy kids in the 1930s.

she still talks about his HIJINKS! and was VERY proud of him.

SADLY, he was NOT well-liked by the townsfolk at home because his family "pulled onions" for a very poor living. when he came home from war, he was asked NOT to visit his sisters on the campus & was NOT given a homecoming party.

the TXARNG rememied that ommission in the late sixties!

free dixie,sw

100 posted on 09/01/2003 4:02:41 PM PDT by stand watie (Resistence to tyrants is obedience to God. -Thomas Jefferson)
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