Audie Murphy

Audie Murphy was an American Army soldier and actor, renowned as one of the most decorated U.S. combat soldiers of World War II.

Connect

Dwight D. Eisenhower: Dwight D. Eisenhower was a U.S. Army general who commanded Allied forces in Europe during World War II and later became president. Murphy’s battlefield service took place within the Allied campaigns Eisenhower commanded.
Battle of Holtzwihr: The Battle of Holtzwihr was a January 1945 engagement in which U.S. forces fought German troops in Alsace, France. Murphy held off a German attack there while wounded and directing fire from a burning tank destroyer.
To Hell and Back: To Hell and Back is Audie Murphy’s 1949 memoir of his World War II service. The memoir recounts the experiences that established Murphy’s public identity.
Post-traumatic stress disorder: Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition involving persistent distress after exposure to traumatic events. Murphy spoke publicly about nightmares and combat-related distress after World War II.
Desmond Doss: Desmond Doss was a U.S. Army medic and conscientious objector who received the Medal of Honor for saving wounded soldiers. Both became celebrated Medal of Honor recipients, but Doss served as an unarmed medic.
Colmar Pocket: The Colmar Pocket was a German-held area in Alsace surrounded by Allied forces in late 1944 and early 1945. Murphy’s actions at Holtzwihr occurred during the campaign to eliminate this pocket.
To Hell and Back (film): To Hell and Back is a 1955 war film starring Audie Murphy as himself, based on his memoir. It brought Murphy’s wartime story to movie audiences through his own performance.
American Veterans Committee: The American Veterans Committee was a U.S. veterans’ organization founded in 1943 that advocated for an inclusive, nonpartisan approach. Murphy supported veterans’ causes in the public sphere after his military service.
James Cagney: James Cagney was an American film actor who founded a production company and helped bring Murphy’s life story to the screen. Cagney produced and directed Murphy’s film debut, The Red Badge of Courage.
Medal of Honor: The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest military decoration for valor in combat. Murphy received it for his actions at Holtzwihr on January 26, 1945.