World War II Honoree

Audie Murphy

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Kingston, Texas

Honored By

Joe Arsena

Relationship

Movie Fan

HE WAS REJECTED BY BOTH THE MARINE CORPS AND PARATROOPERS BECAUSE HE WAS TOO SHORT. WHILE STATIONED IN EUROPE WITH HIS INFANTRY UNIT, HE FOUGHT THROUGH CAMPAIGNS IN SICILY, ITALY, FRANCE AND GERMANY. HE WAS CREDITED WITH KILLING 240 GERMANS. PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT AND EARNED AT LEAST 24 MEDALS, INCLUDING A PURPLE HEART FOR A GUNSHOT WOUND THAT SHATTERED HIS HIP AND THE COVETED CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. MOST DECORATED SERVICEMAN OF WWII AND EARNED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, 2 SILVER STARS, LEGION OF MERIT, 2 BRONZE STAR MEDALS WITH V DEVICE, 2 PURPLE HEARTS, U.S. ARMY OUTSTANDING CIVILIAN SERVICE MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, 2 DISTINGUISHED UNIT EMBLEMS, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER STAR, 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (REPRESENTING 9 CAMPAIGNS) AND 1 BRONZE ARROWHEAD (REPRESENTING ASSAULT LANDING AT SICILY AND SOUTHERN FRANCE), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY CLASP, ARMED FORCES RESERVE MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, MARKSMAN BADGE WITH RIFLE BAR, EXPERT BADGE WITH BAYONET BAR, FRENCH FOURRAGERE IN COLORS OF THE CROIX DE GUERRE, FRENCH LEGION OF HONOR, GRADE OF CHEVALIER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH SILVER STAR, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, MEDAL OF LIBERATED FRANCE AND THE BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH 1940 PALM.