Audie Murphy. The most decorated US Soldier in WWII. He died in an airplane accident near Roanoke, Virginia on May 28, 1971. His grave is the second-most visited at Arlington National Cemetery; President Kennedy's is the most visited.
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I plan on making the pilgrimage to Arlington to visit his grave now that I am retired. It is on my "Bucket List". I went to Sgt. Alvin C. York's homeplace and grave last year in Pall Mall Tennessee. The church across the road from the graveyard where Alvin is buried next to his wife Gracie and his son looks like the church in the movie "Sgt York". York's son that is buried next to him was the county sheriff and was shot and killed by a drunk he was taking to jail in the early 70s.
I went by the homeplace that the State of Tennessee gave Alvin & Gracie in 1919 and it so happened that their son Andrew was there. He resembles Alvin quite a bit and is a really nice guy.
Audie L. Murphy and Alvin C. York were my childhood heroes and still are. -
Rip hero
Murphy and York My heros too !
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Originally posted by birdie View PostMurphy and York My heros too !
On your next trip to France I can show you the site where SGT York earned his CMOH. Looks a little different than the Hollywood version.
Brad
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Thanks Brad
I'll probably never get there, but thanks to you I have learned so much about the SGT York battles and have enjoyed every word and photo you posted!!Originally posted by Brad Posey View Post
Thank You
Chris
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Audie Murphy American hero
This Citation was awarded to Audie Murphy for “Conspicuous Gallantry and Intrepidity Involving Risk of Life Above and Beyond the Call of Duty In Action With the Enemy”, 26 January 1945. The citation reads:
2d Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions 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, 1 of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 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 eliminate 2d Lt. 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 killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt. 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.Comment
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In the movie "To Hell And Back" they used an actual line that Murphy had told to the radio operator of the artillery fire direction center when the radioman inquired "Aren't the Germans getting awful close to your position?"
Murphy replied "Hold the phone and I will let you talk to one of them!"Comment
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interesting
is there a german or british equivelent?...Last edited by karlo; 06-28-2011, 07:55 PM.Comment
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gary cooper as York recently!Comment
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Murphy as HimselfComment
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That is a photo of the real Alvin C. York, not Gary Cooper.Originally posted by karlo View PostComment
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