Audie Leon Murphy was an American soldier, actor, and songwriter. He was widely celebrated as the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism on January 26, 1945, near Holtzwihr, France. The Medal of Honor citation describes actions that exemplify remarkable bravery, leadership, and self-sacrifice.
Context of the Action
Audie Murphy was serving as a second lieutenant with the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. On that day, his company was under attack by a much larger German force supported by tanks and infantry. Despite being significantly outnumbered, Murphy took decisive action to protect his men and hold the position.
The Heroic Act
Commanding in Crisis: With most of his unit forced to withdraw due to overwhelming fire, Murphy stayed behind with a few men to direct artillery fire against the advancing enemy.
Using a Burning Tank Destroyer: When the situation became critical, Murphy climbed onto a burning M10 tank destroyer, which could explode at any moment, and used its .50 caliber machine gun to fire at the enemy.
Extraordinary Defense: For nearly an hour, he single-handedly held off German troops, killing or wounding dozens of soldiers and forcing the enemy to retreat.
Continuing the Fight Despite Wounds: Despite being wounded in the leg, Murphy refused to abandon his position until the enemy withdrew. He then returned to his company, organized a counterattack, and led his men to drive the Germans from the area.
The Outcome
Murphy’s actions saved his unit from being overrun and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. His courage and leadership under extreme conditions demonstrated the highest standards of military service.
Medal of Honor Citation
Second Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by six tanks and waves of infantry. Second 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, one of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. Second 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 three 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 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. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. Second 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.
Legacy
Audie Murphy became a national hero after the war, and his Medal of Honor was just one of the 33 decorations and awards he received during his military career. His story of bravery, resilience, and sacrifice continues to symbolize the valor of American soldiers.
sources
https://www.si.edu/object/nmah_1062079
https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/audie-l-murphy
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