Biographical Sketch of
AUDIE LEON MURPHY
June 20, 1924 - May 28, 1971
Audie Leon Murphy, son of poor Texas sharecroppers, rose to national fame as the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of World War II. Among his 33 awards and decorations was the Medal of Honor, the highest military award for bravery that can be given to any individual in the United States of America, for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." He also received every decoration for valor that his country had to offer, some of them more than once, including 5 decorations by France and Belgium. Credited with killing over 240 of the enemy while wounding and capturing many others, he became a legend within the 3rd Infantry Division. Beginning his service as an Army Private, Audie quickly rose to the enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant, was wounded three times, fought in 9 major campaigns across the European Theater, and survived the war.
Born June 20, 1924 near Kingston, Texas, he was the 7th of 12 children.While growing up he picked cotton and became very skilled with a rifle to hunt small game to help feed the family. His father left the family in 1940 and his mother died in 1941 so at the age of 17 he was left to care for his younger siblings. When the United States declared war in 1941, Audie rushed to enlist. He first attempted to join the Marines, but was turned away for being too small—he was 5’ 5” tall and weighed only 110 pounds. He attempted to join the paratroopers and was again turned away.
Finally he enlisted in the Regular Army as an infantryman. Following Basic training in Texas and Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Meade, MD Audie was shipped to Casablanca, Morocco, in February 1943, assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. His unit invaded Sicily in July 1943 and Audie joined any patrol he could. He soon distinguished himself under fire as a resourceful and effective soldier. He excelled in the invasion of Salerno, but twice caught malaria. He kept returning for more action. Audie refused a battlefield Commission to stay with his unit and the details of his wartime exploits were immortalized in his autobiography “To Hell and Back.” . He did eventually receive a commission as a Second Lieutenant.
During Murphy's 3 years active service as a combat soldier in World War II, Audie became one of the best fighting combat soldiers of this or any other century. What Audie accomplished during this period is most significant and probably will never be repeated by another soldier, given today's high-tech type of warefare. The U.S. Army has always declared that there will never be another Audie Murphy.
On 21 September, 1945, Audie was released from the Army as an active member and reassigned to inactive status During this same time, actor James Cagney invited Murphy to Hollywood in September 1945, when he saw Murphy's photo on the cover of Life Magazine. The next couple of years in California were hard times for Audie Murphy. Struggling and becoming disillusioned from lack of work while sleeping in a local gymnasium, he finally received token acting parts in his first two films.
His first starring role came in a 1949 released film by Allied Artists called, Bad Boy. In 1950 Murphy eventually got a contract with Universal-International (later called Universal) where he starred in 26 films, 23 of them westerns over the next 15 years. His 1949 autobiography To Hell And Back was a best seller. Murphy starred as himself in a film biography released by Universal-International in 1955 with the same title. The movie, To Hell and Back, held the record as Universal's highest grossing picture until 1975 when it was finally surpassed by the movie Jaws. In the mid-60s the studios switched from contract players to hiring actors on a picture-by-picture basis. Consequently, when his contract expired in 1965 Universal did not renew. This gave him the opportunity to work with other studios and independent film producers. In the 25 years that Audie spent in Hollywood, he made a total of 44 feature films.
In 1950 Murphy joined the Thirty-sixth Division of the Texas National Guardqv as a captain, hoping to fight in the Korean War. The division, however, was not called to active duty. Murphy remained with the Thirty-sixth "T-patchers" for several more years, eventually attaining the rank of major. In 1957 he was assigned to inactive status. He transferred to the United States Army Reserve in 1966, where he remained until his death. .
Despite his success in Hollywood, Audie never forgot his rural Texas roots. He returned frequently to the Dallas area where he owned a small ranch for a while. He also had ranches in Perris, California and near Tucson, Arizona. He was a successful Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racehorse owner and breeder, having interests in such great horses as "Depth Charge." His films earned him close to 3 million dollars in 23 years as an actor. Audie loved to gamble, and he bet on horses and different sporting events. He was also a great poker player. In his role as a prodigious gambler, he won and lost fortunes.
Audie Murphy wrote some poetry and was quite successful as a songwriter. He usually teamed up with talented artists and composers such as Guy Mitchell, Jimmy Bryant, Scott Turner, Coy Ziegler, or Terri Eddleman. Dozens of Audie Murphy's songs were recorded and released by such great performers as Dean Martin, Eddy Arnold, Charley Pride, Jimmy Bryant, Porter Waggoner, Jerry Wallace, Roy Clark, Harry Nilsson and many, many others. His two biggest hits were Shutters and Boards and When the Wind Blows in Chicago. Eddy Arnold recorded When the Wind Blows in Chicago for his 1993 album Last of the Love Song Singers which is currently in release by RCA.
Audie sufferred from what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTS) and was plagued by insomnia and depression. During the mid-60's he became dependent for a time on doctor prescribed sleeping pills called Placidyl. When he recognized that he had become addicted to this prescription drug, he locked himself in a motel room, stopped taking the sleeping pills and went through withdrawal symptoms for a week. Always an advocate for the needs of veterans, he broke the taboo about discussing war related mental problems after this experience. In a effort to draw attention to the problems of returning Korean and Vietnam War veterans, Audie Murphy spoke-out candidly about his personal problems with PTS, then known as "Battle Fatigue". He publicly called for United States government to give more consideration and study to the emotional impact war has on veterans and to extend health care benefits to address PTS and other mental health problems of returning war vets.
In 1955, Audie Murphy became interested in Freemasonry. Encouraged by his close friend, Texas theater owner Skipper Cherry, Audie petitioned and joined the Masonic Order in California. Later he returned to Texas to conduct his 32 degree work and to join the Shriners. Audie remained active in various masonic events and was a member of good standing at the time of his death.
Audie received his first degree in Masonry when he was regularly initiated, February 14, 1955 through the North Hollywood (California) Lodge No. 542 F & AM (Free and Accepted Masons). He was passed to the degree of a Fellowcraft April 4, 1955. On June 27, 1955, he was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.
He became a dual member with Heritage Lodge No. 764 F & AM (North Hollywood, California) on May 14, 1956.
Audie took his 32nd degree (degrees 4 through 32) at the Scottish Rite Temple in Dallas on November 11-14, 1957 according to records located at this temple. After receiving his 32nd degree, Audie was elected vice president of the Thomas B. Hunter Memorial Class of the Dallas Valley of the Scottish Rite.
Audie became a Noble of the mystic Shrine in Hella Temple in Dallas on November 15, 1957.
Audie was also decorated a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor (KCCH) by the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite on December 11, 1965.
Audie affiliated with the Long Beach (Scottish Rite) Consistory on April 2, 1971. Two weeks previously, on March 19, 1971, Noble Murphy affiliated with the Al Malaikah Shrine Temple in Los Angeles.
Audie often participated in Shrine parades in both Texas and on the West Coast. He was especially involved with the annual Mariner's Night, which included a dinner held in the memory of the dead and to honor the living seafaring men. The annual Mariner's Night was sponsored by San Pedro's Los Angeles Harbor Lodge No. 332, Long Beach California. As an honored guest, Audie made one of his last public speeches for the Mariner's Night Dinner on April 15, 1971.
While on a business trip on May 28, 1971, (Memorial Day Weekend) he was killed at the age of 46. A private plane flying in fog and rain crashed into the side of a mountain near Roanoke, Virginia. Five others including the pilot were also killed. Although Audie owned and flew his own plane earlier in his career in Hollywood, he was among the passengers that tragic day. He left behind his wife of 20 years, Pamela Archer, two sons, Terry and James Shannon, other family members and hundreds of friends and admirers
On June 7th, Audie Murphy was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. Future President George Bush was numbered among those who attended his funeral. Audie’s gravesite, near the Amphitheater, is second most visited gravesite year round. President Kennedy's grave is the most visited.
Shortly after Audie Murphy's death, the Long Beach California Scottish Rite Bodies honored Brother Audie Murphy by naming the 111th Long Beach Scottish Rite Graduating Class the "Audie Murphy Memorial Class." The class, which graduated on Saturday, November 19, 1971, had 124 members from forty-five California cities and towns. One of the highlights of "graduation day" for the members of the Memorial Class was a special showing of the film TO HELL AND BACK. The film substituted for the 31st degree and was shown to give the candidates a much better understanding of the character and background of the distinguished Mason and late member of the Long Beach Bodies.
In 1996 the Texas Legislature officially designated his birthday, June 20th, as Audie Murphy Day.
In 2000, during the November Ladies Night Dinner of the Valley of Long Beach, Audie Murphy was recognized when local Scottish Rite members presented to his widow, Mrs. Pamela Murphy, a 33 degree cap in honor of the posthumous election of her husband to that degree at an earlier Biennial Session of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite.
Congressman Olin Teague of Texas summed up what Audie Murphy has meant to America in 1971 when introducing legislation to designate the soon-to-be-completed $36 million San Antonio VA hospital as the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans' Hospital.
“I believe it would be most fitting for it to be named in memory of America's most decorated veteran of World War II, the late Capt. Audie Murphy.
Just as the name of Sgt. Alvin York epitomized the heroes of World War I, Audie Murphy is remembered by most Americans as the hero of World War II. Both of these great citizen soldiers came from similar backgrounds - they were born and lived their early years in rural areas of our country - they both suffered from poverty during childhood and in their young adult lives. Notwithstanding many handicaps, unlike many today, when their country went to war to protect liberty and freedom they, along with millions of America's finest young men from all walks of life, joined the Armed Forces of America to help defeat our country's enemies. Both of these heroic men fell upon hard times after their military service, but their indomitable courage and their personal dignity remained with them until the end. They symbolize the generations of men who have been willing to put their personal safety aside to preserve freedom for their fellow man.”
During World War II, Audie Murphy, the son of a Texas tenant farmer was awarded 24 citations for his battlefield deeds including the Medal of Honor and a battlefield commission as a 2d lieutenant. In January 1945, the infantry company which Lieutenant Murphy commanded in eastern France was besieged by six German tanks. Lieutenant 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, one of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. Lieutenant Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of 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 at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machinegun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from three sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused the attack to waiver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate Lieutenant Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep 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 singlehanded 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. 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.
Infantryman Tony V. Abramski, who witnessed the brave actions of Lieutenant Murphy said later -