Audie Murphy wounded

[PlaceOfBayonets]

January 26, 1945

Audie Murphy wounded

On this day, the most decorated man of the war, American Lt. Audie
Murphy, is wounded in France.

Born the son of Texas sharecroppers on June 20, 1924, Murphy served
three years of active duty, beginning as a private, rising to the rank
of staff sergeant, and finally winning a battlefield commission to 2nd
lieutenant. He was wounded three times, fought in nine major campaigns
across Europe, and was credited with killing 241 Germans. He won 37
medals and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the
Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster), the Legion of Merit, and the Croix
de Guerre (with palm).

The battle that won Murphy the Medal of Honor, and which ended his
active duty, occurred during the last stages of the Allied victory over
the Germans in France. Murphy
acted as cover for infantrymen during a last desperate German tank
attack. Climbing atop an abandoned U.S. tank destroyer, he took control
of its .50-caliber machine gun and killed 50 Germans, stopping the
advance but suffering a leg wound in the process.

Upon returning to the States, Murphy was invited to Hollywood by Jimmy
Cagney, who saw the war hero's picture on the cover of Life magazine. By
1950, Murphy won an acting contract with Universal Pictures. In his most
famous role, he played himself in the monumentally successful To Hell
and Back. Perhaps as interesting as his film career was his public admission that
he suffered severe depression from post traumatic stress syndrome, also
called battle fatigue, and became addicted to sleeping pills as a
result. This had long been a taboo subject for veterans. Murphy died in
a plane crash while on a business trip in 1971. He was
46.

[Terry OToole]

i read his autobiography "to hell and back" he was a loner and considered a bit odd by his companions , but despite his baby faced looks he was a ruthless effective soldier ,a good read i d recomend it , he doesn t pull any punches

[Jürg]

The twon is called Holtzwihr and is just minutes from Colmar. The fighting site has a small memorial since January 29, 2000. A photo of the memorial can be seen on the Audie Murphy website.

January 26, 1945

Audie Murphy wounded

On this day, the most decorated man of the war, American Lt. Audie
Murphy, is wounded in France.

Born the son of Texas sharecroppers on June 20, 1924, Murphy served
three years of active duty, beginning as a private, rising to the rank
of staff sergeant, and finally winning a battlefield commission to 2nd
lieutenant. He was wounded three times, fought in nine major campaigns
across Europe, and was credited with killing 241 Germans. He won 37
medals and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the
Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster), the Legion of Merit, and the Croix
de Guerre (with palm).

The battle that won Murphy the Medal of Honor, and which ended his
active duty, occurred during the last stages of the Allied victory over
the Germans in France. Murphy
acted as cover for infantrymen during a last desperate German tank
attack. Climbing atop an abandoned U.S. tank destroyer, he took control
of its .50-caliber machine gun and killed 50 Germans, stopping the
advance but suffering a leg wound in the process.

Upon returning to the States, Murphy was invited to Hollywood by Jimmy
Cagney, who saw the war hero's picture on the cover of Life magazine. By
1950, Murphy won an acting contract with Universal Pictures. In his most
famous role, he played himself in the monumentally successful To Hell
and Back. Perhaps as interesting as his film career was his public admission that
he suffered severe depression from post traumatic stress syndrome, also
called battle fatigue, and became addicted to sleeping pills as a
result. This had long been a taboo subject for veterans. Murphy died in
a plane crash while on a business trip in 1971. He was
46.

[DennyB]

Audie Murphy did a lot as far as promoting research into PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). After his death it was discovered that he had a bedroom built in his garage because his screaming at night kept his family awake. He also slept with a .45 under his pillow. He was my hero as a child and remains so today.

[Alan Smith]

Just wondering: Audie used a .50 caliber BMG mounted on top of a knocked out tank or tank destroyer to accomplish much of the deeds for which the CMOH was awarded. Correct?

I've got a friend who is currently in the U.S. Army and tells me that they are given very strict training instructions that the .50 caliber is for use only against vehicles and other material, and that it is a violation of some of the Geneva Conventions to use it against enemy personnel. He also insisted that the "no use against personnel" is a very long-standing rule with the U.S. Army.

I had never heard of this alleged policy or rule prior to my friend's comments. Plus, I told him that if such policy had been in effect in WWII, then a lot of U.S. personnel would be considered war criminals (e.g. Audie Murphy or the pilots who flew ground attack at the Falase Gap).

Anyone know anything about the alleged "no use against personnel" rule or policy in the U.S. Army for the .50 BMG? Maybe my friend got confused?

The more I think about it, my friend must be confusd or just plain wrong. After all, the former pro-football player (Pat Tillman) who got killed in Afganistan was struck in the head by a .50 round from a vehicle mounted BMG, in a "friendly fire" incident. The fellow Ranger who shot him was allegedly shooting at Talliban (who were not in vehicles). Thus, under the alleged rule my friend outlined, the Pat Tillman incident should not have happend (at least not with a .50 BMG).

Any RKI's out there on this point?

[bmackay]

Interesting topic, I once was told that anti air flak guns were also banned from being used against enemy personnel- but we all know how often it was used against infantry ,notably along the eastern front. To me , a weapon is a weapon in war- if the situation arises where its your life on theirs-then you must use any weapon at your immediate disposal. end of story.

Just wondering: Audie used a .50 caliber BMG mounted on top of a knocked out tank or tank destroyer to accomplish much of the deeds for which the CMOH was awarded. Correct?

I've got a friend who is currently in the U.S. Army and tells me that they are given very strict training instructions that the .50 caliber is for use only against vehicles and other material, and that it is a violation of some of the Geneva Conventions to use it against enemy personnel. He also insisted that the "no use against personnel" is a very long-standing rule with the U.S. Army.

I had never heard of this alleged policy or rule prior to my friend's comments. Plus, I told him that if such policy had been in effect in WWII, then a lot of U.S. personnel would be considered war criminals (e.g. Audie Murphy or the pilots who flew ground attack at the Falase Gap).

Anyone know anything about the alleged "no use against personnel" rule or policy in the U.S. Army for the .50 BMG? Maybe my friend got confused?

The more I think about it, my friend must be confusd or just plain wrong. After all, the former pro-football player (Pat Tillman) who got killed in Afganistan was struck in the head by a .50 round from a vehicle mounted BMG, in a "friendly fire" incident. The fellow Ranger who shot him was allegedly shooting at Talliban (who were not in vehicles). Thus, under the alleged rule my friend outlined, the Pat Tillman incident should not have happend (at least not with a .50 BMG).

Any RKI's out there on this point?

[phild]

Just wondering: Audie used a .50 caliber BMG mounted on top of a knocked out tank or tank destroyer to accomplish much of the deeds for which the CMOH was awarded. Correct?

I've got a friend who is currently in the U.S. Army and tells me that they are given very strict training instructions that the .50 caliber is for use only against vehicles and other material, and that it is a violation of some of the Geneva Conventions to use it against enemy personnel. He also insisted that the "no use against personnel" is a very long-standing rule with the U.S. Army.

I had never heard of this alleged policy or rule prior to my friend's comments. Plus, I told him that if such policy had been in effect in WWII, then a lot of U.S. personnel would be considered war criminals (e.g. Audie Murphy or the pilots who flew ground attack at the Falase Gap).

Anyone know anything about the alleged "no use against personnel" rule or policy in the U.S. Army for the .50 BMG? Maybe my friend got confused?

The more I think about it, my friend must be confusd or just plain wrong. After all, the former pro-football player (Pat Tillman) who got killed in Afganistan was struck in the head by a .50 round from a vehicle mounted BMG, in a "friendly fire" incident. The fellow Ranger who shot him was allegedly shooting at Talliban (who were not in vehicles). Thus, under the alleged rule my friend outlined, the Pat Tillman incident should not have happend (at least not with a .50 BMG).

Any RKI's out there on this point?

We were always advised to aim at the equipment being worn and carried by the enemy when engaging with the M2, thereby breaking no rules of war. That is not a joke.

[David T]

Alan, your friend is not confused...he is correct.

[Steve Sherlock]

Hmmm, let me get this straight. Does this Geneva Convention rule actually mean this?: Suppose you and two men are defending a position against rapidly advancing enemy infantry. Your light infantry weapons are either broken, jammed, or out of ammo. You do have an operative .50 cal. machine gun with ammo. So, does this rule mean that you are not supposed to not use the .50 cal, and instead let yourself be killed or captured??

Steve

[Jean-Loup]

I was told by a friend in the norwegian army that 50 cal weapons are not supposed to be used against personel. He didnt mention it being part of the Geneva convention though. Maybe more like just army policy (technicaly, using a 50 cal to shoot a person is a waste of an expensive and powerfull bullet). It is obvious that when in combat, you will use whatever you have, including a 50 cal, and I doubt this rule existed during WW2.
I remember that in about 2002, a team of Canadian snipers in Afagnistan shot a taliban at about 2400 meters with a 50 caliber.

On an other topic, I would be curious to know how many german soldiers were exhumed from the area where Audie Murphy shot 50 of them. I wouldnt be surprised if actualy only 10 or 15 germans had been killed, not 50.

JL

[Kelly w]

Reports are anywhere from 50 -240. If you count dead by M1 carbine, 50 cal, artillery strikes he called in and prisoners of war, it's far more then 10-15. Plus after all that he led a counterstrike to clear all remaining Germans from the area.

10-15 wouldn't get a MOH, come on man give the guy more credit then that!

[mvm71]

Sounds like someone is doubting the deeds described in the MOH citation........

Mike

[Chris Boonzaier]

We were always advised to aim at the equipment being worn and carried by the enemy when engaging with the M2, thereby breaking no rules of war. That is not a joke.

Thats funny, In the French Army we learned the same thing... Against equipement... and web gear is equipement.

[Seigfried]

Thats funny, In the French Army we learned the same thing... Against equipement... and web gear is equipement.

I do not know what sort of ROE you guys use in the US or anywhere else but in the British Army you may use any weapon against the enemy (obviously avoiding collateral damage etc) and you are to aim for the largest part of the target ie the body, not bits of random webbing - I've never heard anything like this ever and I really do not believe it. Someone here post a scan of their ROE if they are not breaking any military restrictions.

What about the Barret Light .50 sniper rifle for example? Apache gun ships? We have an automatic grenade launcher on top of our vehicles nicknamed 'the people eater' which is anti personnel.

[Alan Smith]

Back on the issue of using the .50 cal. M2 machinegun against enemy troops, my recollection is that Pat Tillman was KIA by a .50 cal. round to the head that was fired by another U.S. soldier from a M2 machinegun: the fellow soldier thought he was firing at Tallaban fighters with the M2.