[1 of 13]
76 years ago today, A Dog Face Soldier became a legend.
2nd Lt Audie Murphy, alone and unafraid, armed with only the courage of a lion and a machine gun fired from a burning tank destroyer, repels a massive German attack.
[pic= Audie recreating the battle for a film]
76 years ago today, A Dog Face Soldier became a legend.
2nd Lt Audie Murphy, alone and unafraid, armed with only the courage of a lion and a machine gun fired from a burning tank destroyer, repels a massive German attack.
[pic= Audie recreating the battle for a film]
[2 of 13]
By this time in the war, January 26, 1945, Audie had demonstrated his courage in the European Theater MANY times.
Seemingly immune to fear, he is a born leader. He'd already earned a battlefield commission, Distinguished Service Cross, and multiple Bronze Stars.
By this time in the war, January 26, 1945, Audie had demonstrated his courage in the European Theater MANY times.
Seemingly immune to fear, he is a born leader. He'd already earned a battlefield commission, Distinguished Service Cross, and multiple Bronze Stars.
[3 of 13]
In gunfight after gunfight after gunfight, he'd fought like a dog: repelling German attacks, capturing Italian Soldiers, leading troops out of ambushes, receiving combat wounds.
In gunfight after gunfight after gunfight, he'd fought like a dog: repelling German attacks, capturing Italian Soldiers, leading troops out of ambushes, receiving combat wounds.
[4 of 13]
The boy from Kingston, Texas, who dropped out of school in 5th grade and was turned down for war by EVERY military service after trying to enlist underweight and underage had already acquitted himself as a hero.
But even by his standards, this was wild.
The boy from Kingston, Texas, who dropped out of school in 5th grade and was turned down for war by EVERY military service after trying to enlist underweight and underage had already acquitted himself as a hero.
But even by his standards, this was wild.
[5 of 13]
Holtzwihr, France: Audie's platoon is overrun by six German tanks and wave after wave of German foot Soldier. He directs his men to fall back to cover but does not retreat with them. Instead, he holds his position to cover his men's move.
[pic is from To Hell & Back]
Holtzwihr, France: Audie's platoon is overrun by six German tanks and wave after wave of German foot Soldier. He directs his men to fall back to cover but does not retreat with them. Instead, he holds his position to cover his men's move.
[pic is from To Hell & Back]
[6 of 13]
An Allied tank destroyer, hit by a German tank, bursts into flames, its crew dismounted & moving into a nearby wood line.
Now surrounded, Audie jumps onto the burning vehicle, in danger of blowing up, & blasts away with its .50 cal machine gun.
Dozens of Germans fall
An Allied tank destroyer, hit by a German tank, bursts into flames, its crew dismounted & moving into a nearby wood line.
Now surrounded, Audie jumps onto the burning vehicle, in danger of blowing up, & blasts away with its .50 cal machine gun.
Dozens of Germans fall
[7 of 13]
Sensing a final glorious moment of triumph in a lost war, wave after frenzied wave of Germans rush forward.
Audie lets loose.
Dozens more Germans fall.
Sensing a final glorious moment of triumph in a lost war, wave after frenzied wave of Germans rush forward.
Audie lets loose.
Dozens more Germans fall.
[8 of 13]
Three sides close in.
Screaming, Audie blasts and blasts, the machine gun now an extension of his being, a vital component of his existence, a projection of the man himself.
More Germans falls.
[pic = Audie's WWII uniform and MoH]
Three sides close in.
Screaming, Audie blasts and blasts, the machine gun now an extension of his being, a vital component of his existence, a projection of the man himself.
More Germans falls.
[pic = Audie's WWII uniform and MoH]
[9 of 13]
The attack hesitates. With German foot Soldiers ripped up, dead, wounded, crying, the onrushing infantrymen blink. Audie does not.
He lets loose again.
More Germans fall.
The attack hesitates. With German foot Soldiers ripped up, dead, wounded, crying, the onrushing infantrymen blink. Audie does not.
He lets loose again.
More Germans fall.
[10 of 13]
For more than an hour - more than an hour - Audie held his ground. He killed or wounded more than 50 Germans.
In the end, an overwhelming offensive force retreats in the face of a single man.
He doesn't give them an inch.
For more than an hour - more than an hour - Audie held his ground. He killed or wounded more than 50 Germans.
In the end, an overwhelming offensive force retreats in the face of a single man.
He doesn't give them an inch.
[11 of 13]
He is our most famous alum, perhaps the most famous American Soldier in history.
He is the recipient of every single valor award available by the Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism.
He is our most famous alum, perhaps the most famous American Soldier in history.
He is the recipient of every single valor award available by the Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism.
[12 of 13]
His name is on all our lips.
Film star, singer, songwriter, and, during the Vietnam War, a spokesman for treatment of PTSD.
It's hard to go anywhere in the Army without finding something named after Audie Murphy.
His name is on all our lips.
Film star, singer, songwriter, and, during the Vietnam War, a spokesman for treatment of PTSD.
It's hard to go anywhere in the Army without finding something named after Audie Murphy.
[END]
Audie Murphy represents the greatest values of this Corps.
More importantly, he represents the grit of the American Soldier, the ability of the animal spirit overcome the longest of odds, and the power of a ferocious will.
Audie Murphy represents the greatest values of this Corps.
More importantly, he represents the grit of the American Soldier, the ability of the animal spirit overcome the longest of odds, and the power of a ferocious will.
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