Another of those members of "The Greatest Generation"
   Audie Murphy...a Texas hero
   by Murray Montgomery
  

  Every November 11th, many Americans take time to remember and honor the thousands of veterans who have served this country, many giving their lives, in times of war.

It is very important that these men and women should be honored, not only on special days of the year — we should, at every opportunity, thank them for the sacrifices that they made for all of us.

Not so long ago, I viewed a show on television that made me realize how one generation of Americans were responsible for saving this world from horrible consequences. That television special, The Greatest Generation, was written and produced by NBC newsman, Tom Brokaw. He has written a book by the same title and it is superb.

Brokaw refers to the generation of Americans who came of age during the great depression era and World War II. He writes how this age group was united by a common purpose and common values — duty, honor, economy, courage, service, love of family and country.

"At a time in their lives when their days and nights should have been filled with innocent adventure, love, and the lessons of the workaday world, they were fighting in the most primitive conditions possible across the bloodied landscape of France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, and the coral islands of the Pacific," writes Brokaw.

"They answered the call to save the world from the two most powerful and ruthless military machines ever assembled, instruments of conquest in the hands of fascist maniacs. They faced great odds and a late start, but they did

 not protest. They succeeded on every front. They won the war; they saved the world."

This generation produced many heroes. And one of them, Audie L. Murphy, remains to this day the most decorated soldier in United States military history.

According to The Handbook of Texas Online, Audie Murphy, one of twelve children, was born on June 20, 1924, near Kingston, Texas. He enlisted in the army in June of 1942 at the age of 18.

Murphy would go on to see action with the 3rd Infantry Division in North Africa. He won a battlefield commission to second lieutenant and became a company commander. He was awarded every medal that the United States gives for valor. In fact, he won two of them twice. He also received citations from the French and Belgian governments. All in all, he was awarded 33 citations and decorations.

Audie Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor for exceptional valor on January 26, 1945, at Holtzwhir, France. This distinction was won as a result of his performance on the battlefield near that place. He was credited with killing or wounding about 50 Germans and halting an attack by enemy tanks.

He fought in eight campaigns in Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. Murphy was wounded three times. After his phenomenal military career overseas, he was finally discharged from the army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, on August 17, 1945.

Audie Murphy went on to become a movie star and a songwriter; with several of his songs being on the Hit Parade's top ten list. He appeared in 45 motion pictures. With his best know films being: The Red Badge of Courage (1951), To Hell and Back (1955 - the story about his military career), Night Passage (1957 with James Stewart), and The Unforgiven (1960 with Burt Lancaster).

Audie Murphy was killed in a plane crash on May 28, 1971, near Christiansburg, Virginia, and is buried near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

Murphy has been described as a somewhat bashful young man who really didn't think he had done that much in the war. After all, everyone else was doing it too. He was typical of what Tom Brokaw calls "The Greatest Generation." Just ordinary people who were forced, by circumstances, to produce great achievements and save the world.