The Life and Times of Film Star, Audie Murphy

No posts.

Home

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Audie L. Murphy. 1925 - 1971.

Signature of Audie Murphy.

Total Pageviews

Hello! I'm Mr. Ed

Blog Created: 10-13-2024

Last Updated: 10-17-2024

Credits:

Followers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Audie L. Murphy, United States Army.

Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was an American soldier, actor, and songwriter. He was widely celebrated as the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II, and has been described as the most highly decorated soldier in U.S. history. He received every military combat award for valor available from the United States Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. Murphy received the Medal of Honor for valor that he demonstrated at age 19 for single-handedly holding off a company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945, before leading a successful counterattack while wounded.

Murphy was born into a large family of sharecroppers in Hunt County, Texas. After his father abandoned them, his mother died when he was a teenager. Murphy left school in fifth grade to pick cotton and find other work to help support his family; his skill with a hunting rifle helped feed his family.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Murphy's older sister helped him to falsify documentation about his birthdate in order to meet the minimum age for enlisting in the military. Turned down initially for being underweight by the Army, Navy, and the Marine Corps, he eventually was able to enlist in the Army. He first saw action in the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily; then in 1944 he participated in the Battle of Anzio, the liberation of Rome, and the invasion of southern France. Murphy fought at Montélimar and led his men on a successful assault at L'Omet quarry near Cleurie in northeastern France in October. Despite suffering from multiple illnesses and wounds throughout his service, Murphy became one of the most praised and decorated soldiers of World War II. He is credited with killing 241 enemy soldiers.

Attack on Pearl Harbor.

After the war, Murphy embarked on a 21-year acting career. He played himself in the 1955 autobiographical film To Hell and Back, based on his 1949 memoirs of the same name, but most of his roles were in Westerns. He made guest appearances on celebrity television shows and starred in the series Whispering Smith. Murphy was a fairly accomplished songwriter. He bred quarter horses in California and Arizona, and became a regular participant in horse racing.

Photo of Guy Mitchell (left) and Audie Murphy from the television program Whispering Smith.

Because Murphy had what would today be described as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), then known as "battle fatigue", he slept with a loaded handgun under his pillow. He looked for solace in addictive sleeping pills. In his last few years, he was plagued by money problems but refused offers to appear in alcohol and cigarette commercials because he did not want to set a bad example. Murphy died in a plane crash in Virginia in 1971, shortly before his 46th birthday. He was interred with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Early life ~

Murphy was born on 20 June 1925, in Kingston, a small rural community in Hunt County in northeastern Texas. He was the seventh of twelve children born to Emmett Berry Murphy (1887–1976) and his wife Josie Bell Murphy (née Killian; 1891–1941). The Murphys were sharecroppers, of English, Irish, Scots-Irish, Scottish, and German descent. Although Murphy's birth date is listed as 1924 in his enlistment papers, his biographer David A. Smith concluded that he was born in 1925, based on statements made by his To Hell and Back co-author David McClure, his California driver's license, and by Murphy himself.

Audie's parents, Emmitt and Josie Murphy.

As a child, Murphy was a loner with mood swings and an explosive temper. He grew up in northeastern Texas around the towns of Farmersville, Greenville, and Celeste, where he attended elementary school. His father drifted in and out of the family's life and eventually deserted them. Murphy dropped out of school in fifth grade and got a job picking cotton for a dollar a day (equivalent to $22 in 2023) to help support his family; he also became skilled with a rifle, hunting small game to help feed them. After his mother died of endocarditis and pneumonia in 1941, he worked at a radio repair shop and at a combination general store, garage and gas station in Greenville. Hunt County authorities placed his three youngest siblings in Boles Children's Home, a Christian orphanage in Quinlan. After the war, he bought a house in Farmersville for his eldest sister Corinne and her husband, Poland Burns. His other siblings briefly shared the home.

The loss of his mother stayed with Murphy throughout his life. He later stated:

"She died when I was sixteen. She had the most beautiful hair I've ever seen. It reached almost to the floor. She rarely talked; and always seemed to be searching for something. What it was I don't know. We didn't discuss our feelings. But when she passed away, she took something of me with her. It seems I've been searching for it ever since."

World War II service

Enlistment and basic training ~

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he attempted to enlist in the U.S. military, but the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps all turned him down for being underweight and underage. After his sister provided an affidavit that falsified his birth date by a year, he was accepted by the U.S. Army on 30 June 1942. According to his biographer David A. Smith, Murphy acknowledged his birth date was falsified at his enlistment in a 1950 interview with the Austin Statesman: "'The doctor back home couldn't remember exactly when I was born,' he said with a smile, 'so I was 18.'"

After basic training at Camp Wolters, he was sent to Fort Meade for advanced infantry training. During basic training, he earned the Marksman Badge with Rifle Component Bar and Expert Badge with Bayonet Component Bar.

Mediterranean Theater ~

Murphy was shipped to Casablanca in French Morocco on 20 February 1943. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, which trained under the command of Major General Lucian Truscott. After the 13 May surrender of the Axis forces in French Tunisia, the division was put in charge of the prisoners. He participated as a platoon messenger with his division at Arzew in Algeria in rigorous training for the Allied assault landings in Sicily. Murphy was promoted to private first class on 7 May and corporal on 15 July.

Lucian K. Truscott.

When the 3rd Infantry landed at Licata, Sicily, on 10 July, Murphy was a division runner. On a scouting patrol, he killed two fleeing Italian officers near Canicattì. Sidelined with illness for a week when Company B arrived in Palermo on 20 July, he rejoined them when they were assigned to a hillside location protecting a machine-gun emplacement, while the rest of the 3rd Infantry Division fought at San Fratello en route to the Allied capture of the transit port of Messina.

Murphy participated in Operation Avalanche, the September 1943 mainland Salerno landing at Battipaglia. While on a scouting party along the Volturno river, he and two other soldiers were ambushed; German machine gun fire killed one soldier. Murphy and the other survivor responded by killing five Germans with hand grenades and machine gun fire. While taking part in the October Allied assault on the Volturno Line, near Mignano Monte Lungo Hill 193, he and his company repelled an attack by seven German soldiers, killing three and taking four prisoner. Murphy was promoted to sergeant on 13 December.

In January 1944, Murphy was promoted to staff sergeant. He was hospitalized in Naples with malaria on 21 January and was unable to participate in the initial landing at the Anzio beachhead. He returned on 29 January and participated in the First Battle of Cisterna, and was made a platoon sergeant in Company B following the battle. He returned with the 3rd Division to Anzio, where they remained for four months. Taking shelter from the weather in an abandoned farmhouse on 2 March, Murphy and his platoon killed the crew of a passing German tank. He then crawled out alone close enough to destroy the tank with rifle grenades, for which he received the Bronze Star with "V" device.

Murphy continued to make scouting patrols to take German prisoners before being hospitalized for a week on 13 March with a second bout of malaria. Sixty-one infantry officers and enlisted men of Company B, 15th Infantry, including Murphy, were awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge on 8 May.

Murphy was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Bronze Star. American forces liberated Rome on 4 June, and Murphy remained bivouacked in Rome with his platoon throughout July.

European Theater ~

During the first wave of the Allied invasion of southern France, Murphy received the Distinguished Service Cross for action taken on 15 August 1944. After landing on Yellow Beach near Ramatuelle, Murphy's platoon was making its way through a vineyard when the men were attacked by German soldiers. He retrieved a machine gun that had been detached from the squad and returned fire at the German soldiers, killing two and wounding one. Two Germans exited a house about 100 yards (91 m) away and appeared to surrender; when Murphy's best friend responded, they shot and killed him. Murphy advanced alone on the house under direct fire. He killed six, wounded two and took 11 prisoners.

Murphy was with the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment during the 27–28 August offensive at Montélimar that secured the area from the Germans. Along with the other soldiers who took part in the action, he received the Presidential Unit Citation.

Murphy's first Purple Heart was for a heel wound received in a mortar shell blast on 15 September 1944 in northeastern France. His first Silver Star came after he killed four and wounded three at a German machine gun position on 2 October at L'Omet quarry in the Cleurie valley. Three days later, Murphy crawled alone towards the Germans at L'Omet, carrying an SCR-536 radio and directing his men for an hour while the Germans fired directly at him. When his men finally took the hill, 15 Germans had been killed and 35 wounded. Murphy's actions earned him a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Silver Star. He was awarded a battlefield commission to second lieutenant on 14 October, which elevated him to platoon leader. While en route to Brouvelieures on 26 October, the 3rd Platoon of Company B was attacked by a German sniper group. Murphy captured two before being shot in the hip by a sniper; he returned fire and shot the sniper between the eyes. At the 3rd General Hospital at Aix-en-Provence, the removal of gangrene from the wound caused partial loss of his hip muscle and kept him out of combat until January. Murphy received his first Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Purple Heart for this injury.

The Colmar Pocket, 850 square miles (2,200 km2) in the Vosges Mountains, had been held by German troops since November 1944. On 14 January 1945, Murphy rejoined his platoon, which had been moved to the Colmar area in December. He moved with the 3rd Division on 24 January to the town of Holtzwihr, where they faced a strong German counterattack. He was wounded in both legs, for which he received a second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Purple Heart. As the company awaited reinforcements on 26 January, he was made commander of Company B.

M10 Tank Destroyer, U.S. Version, with 50 caliber machine gun digitally added. Photo by Herve Abrahms. And the SCR-536 radio.

M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun.

M1 carbine.

For his actions that day, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. The 3rd Infantry Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions at the Colmar Pocket, giving Murphy a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for the emblem.

On 16 February, Murphy was promoted to first lieutenant and was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service from 22 January 1944 to 18 February 1945. He was moved from the front lines to Regimental Headquarters and made a liaison officer.

Decorations ~

The United States additionally honored Murphy's war contributions with the American Campaign Medal,[89] the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with arrowhead device and 9 campaign stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp. France recognized his service with the French Legion of Honor – Grade of Chevalier, the French Croix de guerre with Silver Star, the French Croix de guerre with Palm, the French Liberation Medal and the French Fourragère in Colors of the Croix de guerre, which was authorized for all members of the 3rd Infantry Division who fought in France during World War II. Belgium awarded Murphy the Belgian Croix de guerre with 1940 Palm.

Brigadier General Ralph B. Lovett and Lieutenant Colonel Hallet D. Edson recommended Murphy for the Medal of Honor. Near Salzburg, Austria, on 2 June 1945, Lieutenant General A.M. Patch presented Murphy with the Medal of Honor and Legion of Merit for his actions at Holtzwihr. When asked after the war why he had seized the machine gun and taken on an entire company of German infantry, he replied, "They were killing my friends".

Alexander Patch.

Murphy received every U.S. military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army for his World War II service.

Postwar military service ~

nquiries were made through official channels about the prospect of Murphy attending West Point upon his return to the United States, but he never enrolled. According to author Don Graham, Murphy suggested the idea and then dropped it, possibly when he realized the extent of academic preparation needed to pass the entrance exam.

Murphy was one of several military personnel who received orders on 8 June 1945 to report to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, for temporary duty and reassignment. Upon arrival on 13 June, he was one of four assigned to Fort Sam Houston Army Ground & Services Redistribution Station and sent home for 30 days of recuperation, with permission to travel anywhere within the United States during that period. While on leave, Murphy was feted with parades, banquets, and speeches. He received a belated Good Conduct Medal on 21 August.

He was discharged with the rank of first lieutenant at a 50 percent disability classification on 21 September and transferred to the Officers' Reserve Corps.

Post-traumatic stress ~

After his military service, Murphy was plagued with insomnia and bouts of depression, and he slept with a loaded pistol under his pillow. A post-service medical examination on 17 June 1947 revealed symptoms of headaches, vomiting, and nightmares about the war. His medical records indicated that he took sleeping pills to help prevent nightmares. During the mid-1960s, he recognized his dependence on the sedative Placidyl, and locked himself alone in a hotel room for a week to successfully break the addiction. Post-traumatic stress levels exacerbated his innate moodiness, and surfaced in episodes that friends and professional colleagues found alarming. His first wife, Dixie Wanda Hendrix, claimed he once held her at gunpoint. She witnessed her husband being guilt-ridden and tearful over newsreel footage of German war orphans. Murphy briefly found a creative stress outlet in writing poetry after his Army discharge. His poem "The Crosses Grow on Anzio" appeared in his book To Hell and Back, but was attributed to the fictitious character Kerrigan.

Shell shock symptoms post World War 1.

To draw attention to the problems of returning Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, Murphy spoke out candidly about his own problems with post-traumatic stress disorder. It was known during Murphy's lifetime as "battle fatigue" and "shell shock", terminology that dated back to World War I. He called on the government to give increased consideration and study to the emotional impact of combat experiences, and to extend health care benefits to war veterans. As a result of legislation introduced by U.S. Congressman Olin Teague five months after Murphy's death in 1971, the Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio, now a part of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, was dedicated in 1973.

Olin E. Teague.

Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.

Texas Army National Guard ~

At the end of World War II, the 36th Infantry Division reverted to state control as part of the Texas Army National Guard, and Murphy's friends, Major General H. Miller Ainsworth and Brigadier General Carl L. Phinney, were the 36th's commander and deputy commander respectively. After the 25 June 1950 commencement of the Korean War, Murphy began a second military career and was commissioned as a captain in the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard. He drilled new recruits in the summer training camps, and granted the Guard permission to use his name and image in recruiting materials. Although he wanted to join the fighting and juggled training activities with his film career, the 36th Infantry Division was never sent to Korea.

Captain Audie Murphy, 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard conducts a briefing using a military drawing and a pointer while attending summer training at Fort Hood, Texas.

At his request, he transferred to inactive status on 1 October 1951 because of his film commitments with MGM Studios, and returned to active status in 1955. Murphy was promoted to the rank of major by the Texas Army National Guard in 1956 and returned to inactive status in 1957. In 1969, his official separation from the Guard transferred him to the United States Army Reserve. He remained with the USAR until his transfer to the Retired Reserve later in 1969.

Film career ~

During an acting career spanning from 1948 to 1969, Murphy made more than 40 feature films and one television series. When actor and producer James Cagney saw the 16 July 1945 issue of Life magazine depicting Murphy as the "most decorated soldier", he brought him to Hollywood. Cagney and his brother William signed him as a contract player for their production company and gave him training in acting, voice and dance. They never cast Murphy in a movie and a personal disagreement ended the association in 1947. Murphy later worked with acting coach Estelle Harman and honed his diction by reciting dialogue from William Shakespeare and William Saroyan.

William Shakespeare and William Saroyan.

James Cagney.

Murphy moved into Terry Hunt's Athletic Club in Hollywood where he lived until 1948. Hollywood writer David "Spec" McClure befriended Murphy, collaborating with him on Murphy's 1949 book To Hell and Back. McClure used his connections to get a $500 (equivalent to $6,000 in 2023) bit part in Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven (1948) for Murphy. He had been dating actress Wanda Hendrix since 1946. Her talent agent got him a bit part in the Alan Ladd film Beyond Glory directed by John Farrow.[135] His 1949 film Bad Boy gave him his first leading role. The film's financial backers refused to bankroll the project unless Murphy was given the lead; thus, Allied Artists put aside their reservations about using an inexperienced actor and gave him the starring role.

Alan Ladd - Beyond Glory - John Farrow.

Universal Studios signed Murphy to a seven-year studio contract at $2,500 a week (equivalent to $31,700 in 2023). His first film for them was as Billy the Kid in The Kid from Texas in 1950. He wrapped up that year making Sierra starring Wanda Hendrix, who by that time had become his wife, and Kansas Raiders as outlaw Jesse James. Universal lent him to MGM in 1951 at a salary of $25,000 to play the lead of The Youth in The Red Badge of Courage, directed by John Huston. Murphy and Huston worked together again in the 1960 film The Unforgiven.

Wanda Hendrix and John Houston.

The only film Murphy made in 1952 was The Duel at Silver Creek with director Don Siegel. Murphy worked with Siegel one more time in 1958 for The Gun Runners. In 1953, he starred in Frederick de Cordova's Column South, and played Jim Harvey in Nathan Juran's Tumbleweed, an adaptation of the Kenneth Perkins novel Three Were Renegades. Director Nathan Juran also directed Gunsmoke and Drums Across the River. George Marshall directed Murphy in the 1954 Destry, a remake of Destry Rides Again, based on a character created by author Max Brand.

Nathan Juran and George Marshall.

Although Murphy was initially reluctant to appear as himself in To Hell and Back, the 1955 adaptation of his book directed by Jesse Hibbs, he eventually agreed; it became the biggest hit in the history of Universal Studios at the time. To help publicize the release of the film, he made guest appearances on television shows such as What's My Line?, Toast of the Town, and Colgate Comedy Hour. The Hibbs-Murphy team proved so successful in To Hell and Back that the two worked together on five subsequent films. The partnership resulted in Murphy appearing as John Phillip Clum in the 1956 western Walk the Proud Land, and the non-westerns Joe Butterfly and World in My Corner. They worked together for the last time in the 1958 western Ride a Crooked Trail.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz hired Murphy to play the titular role in the 1958 film The Quiet American. Murphy formed a partnership with Harry Joe Brown to make three films, starting with The Guns of Fort Petticoat (1957). The partnership fell into disagreement over the remaining two projects, and Brown filed suit against Murphy.

In 1957 Murphy was cast as The Utica Kid along with James Stewart and Dan Duryea in the western Night Passage.

James Stewart and Dan Duryea.

Murphy was featured in three westerns in 1959: he starred opposite Sandra Dee in The Wild and the Innocent, collaborated as an uncredited co-producer with Walter Mirisch on the black and white Cast a Long Shadow, and performed as a hired killer in No Name on the Bullet, a film that was well received by critics. Thelma Ritter was his costar in the 1960 Startime television episode "The Man". During the early 1960s, Murphy donated his time and otherwise lent his name and image for three episodes of The Big Picture television series produced by the United States Army. He received the 1960 Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for his cooperation in the episode Broken Bridge, which featured his visits to military installations in Germany, Italy, Turkey and the U.S. state of New Mexico to showcase the military's latest weaponry.

Sandra Dee and Thelma Ritter.

Writer Clair Huffaker wrote the 1961 screenplays for Murphy's films Seven Ways from Sundown and Posse from Hell. Willard W. Willingham and his wife Mary Willingham befriended Murphy in his early days in Hollywood and worked with him on a number of projects.

Willard was a producer on Murphy's 1961 television series Whispering Smith, and co-wrote the screenplay for Battle at Bloody Beach that year. He collaborated on Bullet for a Badman in 1964 and Arizona Raiders in 1965. The Willinghams as a team wrote the screenplay for Gunpoint as well as the script for Murphy's last starring lead in the western 40 Guns to Apache Pass in 1967. Murphy made Trunk to Cairo in Israel in 1966.

He first met director Budd Boetticher when Murphy requested to be his boxing partner at Terry Hunt's Athletic Club. He subsequently appeared in the 1951 title role of Boetticher's first western The Cimarron Kid. Boetticher wrote the script in 1969 for Murphy's last film, A Time for Dying. Two other projects that Murphy and Boetticher planned to collaborate on – A Horse for Mr Barnum and When There's Sumpthin' to Do – never came to fruition.

Personal life ~

Murphy married actress Wanda Hendrix in 1949. Their divorce became final two years later in 1951. Four days later, he married former airline stewardess Pamela Opal Lee Archer, with whom he had two sons: Terry Michael and James Shannon.

Audie Murphy with wives Wanda Hendrix and Pam Archer.

Murphy bred quarter horses at the Audie Murphy Ranch in what is now Menifee, California, and the Murphy Ranch in Pima County, Arizona.

His horses raced at the Del Mar Racetrack, and he invested large sums of money in the hobby. Murphy's gambling left his finances in a poor state. In 1968, he stated that he lost $260,000 in an Algerian oil deal and was dealing with the Internal Revenue Service over unpaid taxes. In spite of his financial difficulties, Murphy refused to appear in commercials for alcohol and cigarettes, mindful of the influence he would have on the youth market.

Audie Murphy on top of Apache Agent in the winners circle. The autographed message says... "To Jack: What happened? (signed) Audie Murphy".

He was noted for a quick, fierce temper; he was involved in various violent altercations during his adult life. In May 1970, he was arrested in Burbank, California, charged with battery and assault with intent to commit murder in a dispute with a dog trainer. He was accused of firing a shot at the man, which he denied. Murphy was cleared of the charges.

Death and commemorations ~

On 28 May 1971, Murphy was killed when the private plane in which he was a passenger crashed into the side of a mountain 14 nautical miles (16 mi; 26 km) northwest of Roanoke, Virginia, in conditions of rain, clouds, fog, and zero visibility. The pilot and four other passengers were also killed.

Twin-Engine Aero Commander 680.

The aircraft was a twin-engine Aero Commander 680 flown by a pilot who had a private-pilot license and a reported 8,000 hours of flying time, but who held no instrument rating. The aircraft was recovered on 31 May. After her husband's death, Pamela Murphy moved into a small apartment and got a clerk position at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration Hospital in Los Angeles, where she remained employed for 35 years.

On 7 June 1971, Murphy was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. In attendance were Ambassador to the U.N. George H. W. Bush, Army Chief of Staff William Westmoreland, and many of the 3rd Infantry Division. Murphy's gravesite is in Section 46, headstone number 46-366-11, located across Memorial Drive from the Amphitheater. A special flagstone walkway was later constructed to accommodate the large number of people who visit to pay their respects. It is the cemetery's second most-visited gravesite, after that of President John F. Kennedy.

George H.W.Bush and General William Westmoreland.

The headstones of Medal of Honor recipients buried at Arlington National Cemetery are normally decorated in gold leaf. Murphy previously requested that his stone remain plain and inconspicuous, like that of an ordinary soldier. The headstone contains the birth year 1924, based upon purportedly falsified materials among his military records.

In 1974, a large granite marker was erected just off the Appalachian Trail at 37.364554°N 80.225748°W at 3,100 ft elevation, near the crash site. In 1975, a court awarded Murphy's widow, Pamela, and their two children $2.5 million in damages because of the accident.

Monument at the site of the Virginia plane crash in which Audie Murphy was killed.

Civilian honors were bestowed on Murphy during his lifetime and posthumously, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2013, Murphy was honored by his home state with the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor.

Songwriting ~

David McClure, his collaborator on the book To Hell and Back, discovered Murphy's talent for poetry during their work on the memoir when he found discarded verses in Murphy's Hollywood apartment. One of those poems, "The Crosses Grow on Anzio", appears in To Hell and Back attributed to a soldier named Kerrigan. Only two others survived, "Alone and Far Removed" and "Freedom Flies in Your Heart Like an Eagle". The latter was part of a speech Murphy had written at a 1968 dedication of the Alabama War Memorial in Montgomery, and later set to music by Scott Turner under the title "Dusty Old Helmet".

Murphy was a fan of country music, in particular Bob Wills and Chet Atkins, but was not a singer or musician himself. Through his friend Guy Mitchell, Murphy was introduced to songwriter Scott Turner in 1961. The two collaborated on numerous songs between 1962 and 1970, the most successful of which were "Shutters and Boards" and "When the Wind Blows in Chicago".

Bob Wills - Chet Atkins - Guy Mitchell.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Audie Murphy tending a garden. This photo may have been taken shortly after the war ended.

Audie Murphy shouldering a rifle while standing at the position of attention. Audie has just returned from a squirrel hunting trip with John "Barber" Cawthon. The car is parked in front of the Cawthon residence on 2nd Street in Celeste, Texas.

Audie back from hunting with a rabbit. Source: A&E Biography DVD.

An almost grown Audie relaxes for a photo.

A studio publicity portrait from Ohlingers in New York.

A young Audie wearing an overcoat.

Audie Murphy at the lake.

Audie Murphy reading a script at home.

Another photo from a different view of Audie reading a script while at home.

Audie Murphy relaxing on the edge of a dock.

A studio publicity portrait with autograph. File Source; EBay.

Audie Murphy after receiving what appears to be a key.

Audie Murphy at a ranch or riding stables.

Audie Murphy at the office on the telephone.

Audie Murphy photographed on an city street.

Audie Murphy reading a newspaper while his head is covered with one of the sections.

Audie Murphy relaxes for a publicity shot while sitting on a fence rail in front of his home.

Audie Murphy sitting on a fence rail while at the stables.

Murphy in 1961.

Wanda Hendrix.

Lieutenant Audie Murphy embraces his fiancé and soon-to-be wife, actress Wanda Hendrix, in their engagement announcement photo.

Audie Murphy with his first wife Wanda Hendrix examining a folded document ... possibly a marriage license.

A wedding portrait of Audie Murphy and Wanda Hendrix on their wedding day, January 8, 1949 at the Christ Memorial Unity Church, North Hollywood, California.

Audie Murphy kisses his brand new bride, Wanda Hendrix, after exchanging vows during their wedding ceremony.

Audie Murphy with first wife Wanda Hendrix and Ralph Edwards during a radio broadcast.

Audie shows his first wife Wanda Hendrix how to fish.

A grinning Audie looks on as a suprised uniformed law enforcement officer receives a kiss on his cheek from Audie's wife, actress Wanda Hendrix.

A Life Magazine photo of Audie Murphy showing his medals to Wanda Hendrix.

Audie Murphy stands with his first wife, Wanda Hendrix.

Audie Murphy stands with Wanda Hendrix as Bill Decker presents something that looks like a badge.

Wanda Hendrix and Audie Murphy.

Wanda Hendrix as a guest star on the television series Wagon Train.

Wanda Hendrix in her later years.

x

A portrait photo of Audie with his wife Pamela Archer Murphy.

This is the official engagement photo of Audie Murphy and Pamela Archer.

Audie and Pam wedding photo.

Audie and Pamela Murphy inside their home on a set of stairs during a publicity photo shoot.

Audie and wife Pamela Murphy rub noses inside their home while on a set of stairs during a publicity photo shoot.

Audie and wife Pamela Murphy grab an apple and some juice from the refrigerator during a publicity photo shoot.

Audie is caught sneaking a snack while wife Pamela is in the kitchen.

Audie and wife Pamela Murphy dancing in their living room during a publicity photo shoot.

Audie and wife Pamela Murphy dancing in their living room during a publicity photo shoot.

Pamela Murphy looks over Audie Murphy as he sits at a writing desk editing what appears to be a manuscript. This photo was taken during a publicity shoot.

Audie Murphy answers fan mail with the help of his wife Pamela Murphy and one of his two sons.

Pamela and Audie Murphy are photographed with a young Jimmy Gribble.

Pam and Audie Murphy listen to Hedda Hopper during the Colgate Variety Hour, televised in 1959, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California.

Audie Murphy goes shopping with wife Pamela and become interested in a collection of dolls.

Audie Murphy pretends to be interested in two enormous gag cigars while on a shopping trip with Pamela.

Audie Murphy with his wife Pam panning for gold. Photo source; Ohlingers in New York.

AUDIE MURPHY with wife Pamela Archer and sons James Shannon Murphy , Terry Michael Murphy.

Pamela Murphy winks at the camera as husband Audie Murphy plants a kiss on her forehead.

Pam Murphy in her later years.

A photo taken of Audie Murphy, proud daddy, as a nurse holds his son, Terry Murphy who is 3 days old. The photo was taken on March 17, 1952.

Audie Murphy gives son Skipper a piggyback ride during a publicity photo shoot.

A photo of Audie Murphy with his son Terry which appeared in the August 1952 edition of Photoplay magazine.

A portrait of a young Terry Murphy.

Audie Murphy, wife Pamela, and sons Terry and Skipper sip something yummy from a straw at a soda fountain counter.

Audie stands in front of a large tree with Terry hanging on to his leg.

Audie with son Terry.

Audie with son, Terry Micheal in 1954.

Audie with sons.

Terry Murphy shares his water hose with his daddy by offering him a drink.

Audie with son, Terry in his dressing room at the studio.

The original three amigos ... Audie Murphy with sons Terry and Skipper wearing cowboy hats while leaning against a fence.

Terry performing.

Audie Murphy driven by Terry has a fender bender with Skipper and chimpanzee Donna Jinx during a birthday party for both sons on May 28, 1958. Photograph is by Robert Hull.

During a double birthday for Audie's sons, Terry, 6 years old, and Skipper, 4 years old, whose birthdays are 10 days apart, mom and dad help blow out the candles with the help of a chimpanzee named Donna Jinx on May 28, 1958. Photo by Robert Hull.

Skipper feeds Donna Jinx some birthday cake while his father Audie and brother Terry look on. The caption that came on a slip of paper when this photo was purchased by Ms. Dano says, ""Table manners! Terry, left, Donna Jinx and Skipper sat at their birthday tea, watched by Audie." This picture was taken during a birthday party on May 28, 1958 at their family home in Toluca Lake, California. Photo by Robert Hull.

Audie Murphy wields a cap pistol as his son Skipper and Donna Jinx are held at bay at the end of a cowboy game. The photo was taken during a birthday party on May 28, 1958 at their family home in Toluca Lake, California. Photo by Robert Hull.

Donna Jinx and Skipper Murphy have some fun as they lead each other across their backyard. This picture was taken during a birthday party on May 28, 1958 at their family home in Toluca Lake, California. Photo by Robert Hull.

A double birthday for Audie's sons, Terry, 6 years old, and Skipper, 4 years old, whose birthdays are 10 days apart. Here the neighbors and a chimpanzee named Donna Jinx pose for a group photo taken outside the Murphy family home at Toluca Lake, California on May 28, 1958. Photo by Robert Hull.

Audie Murphy holds his son, Terry, off set when wife Pamela Murphy visits during the filming of TO HELL AND BACK at Yakima, Washington.

Makeup is applied to a young Terry Murphy just before he begins filming one of the opening scenes in TO HELL AND BACK. Terry appeared briefly as one of Audie's younger brothers during the film's beginning.

Audie shows oldest son Terry how to drive a World War II jeep while wife Pam rides along for the fun. Filmed during the production of TO HELL AND BACK.

Audie shows oldest son Terry a German World War II helmet.

Family on an old west town set.

Audie provides cover from outlaws to sons Terry and Skip while off-set during the filming of RIDE A CROOKED TRAIL.

Audie with his two sons Terry and Skip during an off- camera publicity photo of RIDE A CROOKED TRAIL.

Audie with actress Susan Cabot between takes of RIDE CLEAR OF DIABLO.

Audie Murphy admires his son Terry when wife Pamela Murphy visits the set during filming, circa 1952.

Terry Murphy helps his daddy put on his hat during a filming break at the studio.

Audie, Pamela, and Terry Murphy watch as Skipper gets a haircuit at the Universal-International barber shop. This photo was taken on October 28, 1955. Note the butterfly stiches above Audie's left eye.

Audie with his wife Pam and son Terry outside their home going on a stroll with the family dog.

Audie and wife Pamela hold hands with sons Terry and Skipper as they exit the Kiva movie theater after watching WALK THE PROUD LAND.

Audie Murphy takes his wife Pamela and two sons Terry and Skipper on a boat ride during some time off from the filming of NIGHT PASSAGE.

A family photo of Pam, Audie, Skipper, and Terry Murphy.

Audie Murphy and his wife Pamela Murphy help Terry walk a fence rail in front of their home.

A beautifully colorized family picture.

Audie Murphy and wife Pamela sing along with son Terry who is wearing his coonskin cap as he strums a guitar.

Audie Murphy holds one of his sons, probably Terry, as Audie and Pamela Archer Murphy sit on a reclining lawn chair.

Audie with his wife Pam and sons Terry and Skipper inside their home.

Audie with son Terry and wife Pam.

Audie with Terry and Pam.

Audie, Pam and James.

Audie Murphy with his grandfather Jefferson D. Killian (died 1943) and grandmother Elizabeth Gill Killian (died 1946).

An almost grown Audie relaxes for a photo while pretending to smoke a pipe. The child is Audie's nephew, Weldon Burns. Source of photo: A&E Biography DVD.

An early group sibling family photograph. Source of photo: A&E Biography DVD.

Audie with one of his sisters and a younger brother. Audie is on the right. Source: A&E Biography DVD.

Left to Right: Melba Murdock Cawthon, Audie L. Murphy, and Mary Lee or Burns* and her baby. The photo is likely taken in Celeste, Texas at the Cawthon residence. Note: Melba identified the people in the photo but was not sure if Mary's last name Lee or Burns. (Information provided by Michael P. West).

Lieutenant Audie Murphy, home on leave, sitting in an opened top convertible with his sisters Billie and Nadine and his brother Joe during a returning hero's parade.

Audie with his niece Charlene at a newstand previewing a copy of 'Movie Teen.'

Ariel June Murphy Van Cleve. Audie's sister.

Audie's mother holding his brother Eugene.

Audie's father, Emmett Berry Murphy holding grandchild. Audie Murphy Research Foundation photo.

Emmett Murphy, 1972, San Antonio, Texas.

Emmett Murphy holding as photo of son, Audie and wife, Pam.

Joseph Preston Murphy. Audie's brother. Policeman killed in the line of duty.

Corinne with her brother, Audie. June 1945 at Harmersville, Texas.

Eugene Porter Murphy. Audie's brother.

Audie's sister, Nadene Murphy at Audie Murphy Days 2018. AMRF photo.

Birthplace of Audie Murphy. Hunt County near Kingston, Texas. 1973 photograph of the home which was built on the site where Audie Murphy was born. Although the home was built in 1928, several years after Audie's birth, it was constructed with some of the same lumber and bricks acquired from the previous structure (Simpson, page 30). The picture was taken just before the home was demolished. The home was located about 400 yards away from highway 69 just outside of Kingston, Texas. A historical marker erected on the east side of the highway in 1973 now commemorates the location.

Abandoned Train Car. Celeste, Texas. In 1933, when Emmett and Josie Murphy with their 5 children June, Audie, Richard, Gene, and Nadine moved to Celeste, Texas with the primary purpose of enrolling the children in school. They lived in an abandoned railroad box car on the southern end of the small community for several months before renting a rundown home in Celeste until 1937. The railroad car no longer exists. While the family lived in Celeste, the two remaining Murphy children, Beatrice and Joseph, were born. It was here that Audie befriended the Cawthon family who played a prominent role in his life. In 1937, the Murphy family moved back into the abandoned railroad car for several weeks and then moved to a farm near Floyd, Texas located just west of Greenville. Audie finally moved out on his own in 1939 at the age of 15 after finding a job with Haney Lee who had a farm nearby.

Grandparents' Jefferson and Sarah Killian Home Farmersville, Texas. Audie Murphy spent a lot of time with his grandparents, Jefferson D. and Sarah Elizabeth Killian, at their hope in Farmersville, Texas. In fact, the Killian was a place of refuge for the Murphy children when times were difficult during the years of the depression. At the height of the depression, around 1929 or 1930, Audie's oldest sister, Corrine, left the Murphy family and moved in with the grandparents in their Farmersville home helping relieve some of the financial stress burdening the Murphy family. As the family moved from community to community over the years, they never strayed too far from the Killian home. Around 1940, Emmett Murphy, who was known to disappear for weeks at a time while apparently seeking employment, finally vanished permanently. He had attempted to convince his wife and family to move with him to West Texas where he hoped to find work in the oil fields. Unconvinced that this was a wise move, Mrs. Murphy did not want to leave the area where her parents and lifelong friends lived. Her husband eventually abandoned the family in 1933.

Corrine and Poland Burns Home 203 W. Neathery Street, Farmersville, Texas. This was the home of Corrine and Poland Burns from 1940 - 1941. During this period of time, Audie's mother and three youngest siblings, Nadine, Beatrice ("Billie"), and Joseph had moved in with their older sister and husband. Audie's father, Emmett Murphy had already abandoned the family and presumably moved to West Texas where he may have been working as an unskilled laborer in the oil fields. It was in this home that Josie Murphy died on May 23, 1941 after a long battle with illness. At the time, Audie worked and lived in Greenville, Texas. Even still, he managed to travel to his mother's side in "record" time and stayed with her several days before she finally passed away. The official cause of death was listed as "endocarditis", an infection of the lining of the heart, complicated with pneumonia.

1941 Jake Bowen Garage Apartment Corner of Wesley and Horsley Streets, Greenville, Texas. In 1941, Audie Murphy worked as an apprentice radio repairman for Jake Bowen in a Greenville shop on the corner of Wellington and McKinney in Greenville, Texas. At the time, Audie was living in a garage apartment with Mr. Bowen's son, William (Bill) who was Audie's close friend. The garage apartment was the last place Audie live in Hunt County, Texas before enlisting and beginning basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas (Simpson, pp.26-27, 42). The garage apartment sits at the end of a long drive way located at the rear of the main residence (not seen here). The home would later become the property of Dr. D. L. Yarbrough. The current owner is unknown. Located approximately near the corner of Wesley and Horsley in Greenville, Texas, the garage apartment is about 100 to 150 feet west of the corner on Horsley. As you travel west on Horsley from the corner, the house is easily viewed on the right side of the road.

Boles Childrens Home, 7065 Love; Quinlan, Texas 75474. Founded in 1924, the Boles Childrens Home, located in Quinlan, Texas is a multiple building facility that provides residential care in a homelike atmosphere for children and single-parent families. It is licensed by the State of Texas to care for boys and girls. When Audie Murphy's mother Josie Bell Killian Murphy died on May 23, 1941, her youngest children Joeseph, Nadine, and Beatrice ("Billie") were placed in the Boles Childrens Home by order of Hunt County authorities. Audie, although not even eighteen years old, was considered old enough by the county to take care of himself. Although Audie Murphy never lived in this facility, its influence on him was profound. On more than one occassion he vowed during the war to several buddies to eventually earn enough money to have his siblings removed from the home and to reunite the family. With the unexpected help of monetary gifts from Hunt county residents presented to Audie Murphy on his return from World War II, he was able to keep that promise on August 8, 1945. In an agreement with his older sister Corrine and her husband Poland who promised to care for the younger siblings, Audie purchased a home on the southern end of Farmersville and furnished it which effectively brought the family back together.

Corrine and Poland Burns Home, post World War II Farmersville, Texas On August 8, 1945 Audie Murphy purchased the R. L. Russell homestead in Farmersville, Texas using money given to him by community members shortly after his homecoming in June. The assessed value of the furnished home at the time of the purchase was $850. The furnishings were also bought for an additional $750. The home made it possible to reunite the three younger siblings, Nadine, Beatrice, and Joseph who had been placed in the Boles Childrens Home when their mother, Josie Killian Murphy, died on May 23, 1941. Emmett Murphy, the father, had abandoned the family a year earlier. At the time of their mother's death, Audie was approximately 17 years old and was declared by the county to be old enough to take care of himself. The placement of his siblings in the Boles Childrens Home was an event that Audie vowed to correct. On more than one occassion during the war, he told his buddies that he hoped to someday earn enough money to reunite what remained of his family. As it turned out, Audie was able to keep his promise. The home eventually burned down shortly after Corrine and Poland Burns moved to a new residence in 1952.

4427 Melbourne Avenue Hollywood, California After Audie's homecoming from World War II, he accepted an invitation from James Cagney and went to Hollywood to begin training as an actor and to possibly begin a movie career. In a letter dated September 12, 1946 to his life long friends, the Cawthons of Celeste, Texas, Audie reported that he was living at 4427 Melbourne Avenue, Hollywood, California (Simpson, page 260, footnote 10). It isn't known how long Audie lived in this home but the time spent here was probably very short. An internet listing of the property describes it as having 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2,085 square feet, two floors, and a lot of 6,750 square feet. It was built in 1909. The photo of the residence is a recent shot from Google. The home has apparently had some changes. The front porch has obviously been enclosed to create more living space.

Addison, Texas Home (formerly known as Dovies) 14671 Midway Road; Addison, Texas 75001 Audie Murphy's Addison, Texas home was built in the early 1930's, and was designed by an east coast architect. It was used as a farm house on what was once Texas prairie. Later, in the 1950's, Audie Murphy purchased the estate as his own shortly after marrying Pamela Archer. At the time, he believed he would eventually return to Texas and settle down. As it turned out, Audie Murphy and his family never occupied the house and ended up living permanently in California. The house was converted to Dovie's in May 1980 (no longer in business) and a large courtyard room was added. The four bedrooms which were once upstairs, were converted into dining rooms, with a private bar, which was used mostly for private functions. The downstairs remains almost the same. The porch was enclosed and the kitchen increased in size by using the garage and other buildings. The breakfast, dinning, lounge, and den all remain mostly as they appeared in 1930.

Van Nuys, California Home 6233 Orion, Van Nuys, California Purchased in 1953 by Audie Murphy and his second wife, Pamela Archer Murphy. While living here, their two sons Terry Shannon and James Michael were born. The home has had many changes and improvement since the Murphy family lived in it.

TM Ranch 16901 S. Old Sonita Hwy; Vail, Arizona 85641 Bought by Audie Murphy in 1956 the TM ranch was named after Terry Murphy and is approximately 30 miles south east of Tucson, Arizona in Pima County just outside the community of Vail. Although isolated in a very remote area of desert, Google approximately pinpoints its address as 16901 S. Old Sonoita Hwy., Vail, AZ 85641. The 17,000 acre ranch was acquired from Harry Mack of Tucson for $180,000. The property included 4 sections of deeded land and 22 sections under state lease. To the north was Benson Highway (now Interstate 10). The ranch extended south from the highway at the Southern Pacific railroad tracks to the Empire Mountains. Water was provided by Cienega Creek and Davidson Canyon and both passed through the property. The ranch came with a spacious ranch home and a place where Audie could keep a recently purchased herd of Quarter horses. Originally a part a part of the historic Empire Ranch, the property was later sold to Guy Mitchell, movie actor, singer, and friend to Audie Murphy. It is not known who owns the property today but U.S. Geological Survey describes the property by the nickname of the "Murphy Ranch". Located at decimal Latitude 31.9425831 and decimal Longitude -110.612020, its elevation is listed as 3983 feet or 1214 meters. Historical Footnote: Approximately 1.75 miles to the northwest of the ranch buildings, is a Titan II Intercontinental nuclear missile silo which is now decommissioned. Construction of this site began on December 21, 1961 and was built in three phases with the final phase ending December 14, 1962. The silo was active and on alert status from October 24, 1963 until August 10, 1983. The silo was operated by the 390th Strategic Missile Wing out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona. A former member of this wing provided the details of the site and stated that he and other members of the wing were aware of the TM Ranch being in close proximity to their silo. When asked, Terry Murphy said he was unaware of any nuclear silo and that his father sold the property because he needed the money. The construction of the silo occurred shortly after the the nearby ranch property was sold by Audie Murphy.

Del Mar, California Home 1853 Coast Boulevard, Del Mar, California This home is described as a duplex home and is located at 1853 Coast Boulevard, Del Mar, California 92014. A real estate listing on the Internet stated it has 4 beds, 2 baths, and approximately 1,680 square feet. The property was built in 1959.It is close to the Del Mar horse racing track and was probably used by Audie Murphy as an overnight stopover when he travelled to Del Mar to race his horses. Audie Murphy owned this home only for a few years and commented in his FBI file that the home was sold to "R. C. Hangar" of Dallas, Texas.

North Hollywood, California Home 4201 Toluca Road; Hollywood, California Purchased in 1956 by Audie Murphy, this became his last home until 1971. The home was occupied by his family, Pamela Archer Murphy and his two sons Terry Shannon and James Michael Murphy. The home was sold to help the family settle debts after Audie Murphy's death resulting from a plane crash on May 28, 1971.

A portrait of Audie Murphy in his Class A uniform as an army captain.

Private Audie Murphy outside the barracks at Camp Wolters Basic Training Camp with a fellow trainee in 1943.

Private Audie Murphy outside the barracks at Camp Wolters Basic Training Camp with a group of fellow trainees just before enjoying a pass.

A photograph of Lieutenant Audie Murphy standing next to Captain Charles G. Foster, Battalion Surgeon, 1-15 INF, 3rd Infantry Division. (Linda D. Gaede, daughter of Captain Foster).

Audie gives a baseball autographed by Leo Durocher to Otto Hayek of Brooklyn, New York. Hayek was 100% disabled and was recuperating from combat wounds. Audie visited Halloran Hospital when this photo was taken on 23 September, 1946 where Hayek and many others were still hospitalized and recuperating from wounds received more than 1-1/2 years earlier.

As soldiers "pass in review" Captain Audie L. Murphy stands with Charles Murray, both World War II Medal of Honor recipients, during a military ceremony held around 1955.

A studio portrait was taken somewhere in France in late 1944. The photo was given to David A. Phillips by the family of Martin Leo Kelley. Mr. Kelley is mentioned throughout Audie Murphy's memoir "To Hell and Back" but was identified in the movie and book as Kerrigan. Martin Kelley and Audie stayed in contact after the war and Kelley appeared on the Ralph Edwards show "This is Your Life" with Audie in 1949. Kelley also rode with Audie in the City of Boston parade for the opening of "To Hell and Back" in 1955. This photo was sent to Martin Kelley by Audie while Kelley was in the hospital recovering from his last wound suffered in December 1944. Martin Kelley died in 1967 at age 53, days before his 54th birthday. Kelley received three Purple Hearts during the war.

Captain Audie L. Murphy visits the Alamo. Not much is known about the photograph except that its date is after July 14, 1950 after Audie was promoted to captain. (Carl Evans, a.k.a. "the Ringo Kid").

A 1943 basic training platoon photo of 4th Platoon, Company D, 59th Infantry Training Battalion at Camp Walters, Texas. Private Audie Murphy sits on the right side of the first row fourth figure from the right side. (private collection of Phoebe).

Close-up from the last photo.

A portrait of Audie Murphy as a lieutenant taken shortly after the war wearing his dress uniform and ribbons.

A portrait of Lieutenant Murphy wearing his military overcoat.

Audie Murphy right after returning home as a lieutenant wearing his dress uniform and ribbons.

Captain Audie Murphy as a member of the 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guards.

Lieutenant Murphy outdoors in his class A uniform.

Captain Audie Murphy, 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard, consulting with Lieutenant Colonel M. B. Etheredge, Jr. during summer training at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Captain Audie Murphy in his dress uniform sitting next to a framed display of his military medals. This photo taken as a publicity photo by Universal-International studios about the time Audie's movie TO HELL AND BACK was released.

Lieutenant Audie Murphy at Hohenwerfen (a.k.a. Werfen) Castle near Austria on the same afternoon he received the Medal of Honor. Werfen Castle was the 15th Infantry Regimental home at the end of World War II. (For more see Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/MNzv2soc84JM3WkT6).

A very rare photograph of Lieutenant Audie Murphy in Austria at the conclusion of World War II. This photo was taken by Captain Charles G. Foster, Battalion Surgeon, 1-15 INF, 3rd Infantry Division. (Linda D. Gaede, daughter of Captain Foster).

Another rare photograph of Lieutenant Audie Murphy in Austria at the conclusion of World War II. This photo was taken by Captain Charles G. Foster, Battalion Surgeon, 1-15 INF, 3rd Infantry Division. (Linda D. Gaede, daughter of Captain Foster).

Audie Murphy standing at a square in Paris, France in 1948 with an unknown man.

Lieutenant Murphy somewhere in Germany standing in front of the forward batallion, 15th Infantry Regiment's command post.

On March 5, 1945, 1st Lieutenant Audie Murphy was called to Nancy, France by order of his Division Commander, Major General (MG) John "Iron-Mike" O'Daniel. On that day, MG O'Daniel presented to 1st Lieutenant Murphy the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star. After MG O'Daniel pinned the medals on Audie's uniform, he pulled out of his pocket a Medal of Honor. Without giving it to Audie, MG O'Daniel showed the medal to him and stated that General Alexander Patch, the 7th Army Commander, would soon pin it on Audie during a different ceremony. MG O'Daniel is holding the Medal Of Honor in this photo. The photo was taken by Staff Sergeant William Heller (1910-1972), 3rd Signal Company, 3rd Infantry Division who served as an official signal corps photographer between 1943-1945. This photo was contributed by his son Rick Heller.

Brigadier General W. A. Collier, commander of the 8th Service Command in Dallas, Texas, presents to Lieutenant Audie Murphy the French Croix de Guerre with silver star, one of France's highest medals of valor, on September 19, 1945.

Legion of Merit.

A rare photo of Captain Audie Murphy after his return to Paris in 1948, receiving the France's highest award of valor, the French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier from General de Lattre de Tassigny on July 19, 1948.

Captain Audie L. Murphy returns to Paris to receive the France's highest award of valor, the French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier from General de Lattre de Tassigny on July 19, 1948.

Army version of the Medal of Honor.

Audie Murphy shortly after receiving the Legion of Merit and Medal of Honor while standing in front of Hohenwerfen "Werfen" Castle. The castle was occupied by and the headquarters of 1-15 Infantry at the end of the war.

Audie Murphy receiving the Medal of Honor and Legion of Merit from Lieutenant General Alexander Patch.

Audie Murphy receiving the Medal of Honor and Legion of Merit from Lieutenant General Alexander Patch.

Audie Murphy at attention after receiving the Medal of Honor and Legion of Merit.

Audie Murphy saluting Lieutenant General Alexander Patch after receiving the Medal of Honor.

2d Lieutenant Audie Murphy shortly after being awarded the Medal of Honor, June 6, 1945.

Texas Legislative Medal of Honor.

Captain Audie Murphy, 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard, climbs on a helicopter during training held at Fort Hood, Texas.

Text on the back of the photo says "STILL A SOLDIER -- Universal-International star Audie Murphy, the most decorated hero of World War II, still does his bit for national defense as a Captain in the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard. Here Murphy gives instruction in bayonet warfare under the supervision of Major General Carl L. Phinney."

Captain Audie Murphy, 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard conducts a briefing using a military drawing and a pointer while attending summer training at Fort Hood, Texas.

A photo taken September 1953 at Camp Mabry, Texas near Austin during summer training while Audie was a member of the 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guards. Audie is with a youth organization called the "Little Fry". The smallest child next to Audie is Pete Mauldin (no relationship to cartoonist Bill Mauldin).

A shadowbox displaying Audie Murphy’s medals and decorations, among other memorabilia at the Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum. (Photo; Michael Barera).

3rd Infantry Division Patch.

Texas National Guard patch.

Purple Heart.

Presidential Unit Citation.

Meritorious Public Service Medal.

Captain Audie Murphy in uniform standing next to a framed display case of the medals he earned during World War II. This photo was taken as a publicity shot by Universal-International studios.

Paper jacket for discharge papers of Audie Murphy.

Audie Murphy shakes the hand of his uniformed cousin, Mr. Bill Webb, around the time of the Korean War. (Mr. David A. Phillips by Mr. Webb).

A photograph of Audie Murphy standing next to a farmer. This photo may have been taken shortly after the war ended.

Audie Murphy, just after he returned from the war stands with John "Barber"Cawthon following a squirrel hunt. The car is parked in front of the Cawthon place on 2nd Street in Celeste, Texas. Note the combat boots and fatigue pants bloused into the boots military style.

Left to Right: Very likely Johnny Bill Cawthon, son of John Harvey "Barber" Cawthon* and Willie Pinson Cawthon. Willie, too, was a barber and later he and Melba owned a motel west of Greenville, Texas on the southside of I-30. John Cawthon owned the barbershop in Farmersville that was depicted in the Life Magazine photo (July 16, 1945 issue) where Audie was getting a haircut while scores of onlookers watched. (Information provided Michael P. West.)

Audie Murphy meets with an unidentified individual whose office overlooks the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The photo was taken as a publicity shot for TO HELL AND BACK.

An autographed photo of Audie Murphy. The photo shows an unknown Army officer presenting a certificate to an unknown civilian. The inscription on the photo says ... To Bill Decker: Thanks for the house. (signed) A.K. Decker.

Audie Murphy meets with future president Richard Milhouse Nixon. This photo was probably taken when Nixon was vice-president to President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Audie Murphy is at a tourist counter in Paris on a return trip to Europe. On this trip, he received the French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier from General de Lattre de Tassigny on July 19, 1948.

Rodeo champion Casey Tibbs entertains his friends Audie Murphy and singer-actor Guy Mitchell. Both Murphy and Mitchell appear together in the short-lived television series "Whispering Smith."

Audie was a very good friend of the great Hollywood quick draw artist, gunsmith and stuntman Arvo Ojala. They met when they were both about 22 years old. The photo is courtesy of Arvo's daughter (Audie's God-Daughter) Valerie Ojala-Keller.

Actor Audie Murphy consults with his former World War II commander, Colonel Michael Paulick and TO HELL AND BACK director Jesse Hibbs.

This photo appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, April 18, 1953. The caption said "Audie posing with a group of "native girls" on the studio lot!"

Fellow Scottish Rite members Bill Decker, Sheriff of Dallas, and Deputy Sheriff Harry Weatherford stand with Audie Murphy during a meeting at the Dallas Scottish Rite Cathedral. Photograph courtesy of Phoebe.

Actor Charles Drake chats with Audie Murphy off-set.

Audie Murphy and others read a script during a rehearsal or a broadcast. Audie's first wife, Wanda Hendrix, sits opposite him.

Audie Murphy greets Karl Hoblitzelle, the owner of the Majestic Theater in Dallas, Texas. This photo was taken circa 1952.

Audie Murphy meets Lisa Gaye outside her dressing room during the filming of DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER. This photograph was taken on April 23, 1953.

Audie Murphy poses with Lisa Gaye for a publicity photo during the filming of DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER.

Audie Murphy meets with actor James Stewart while Stewart is filming WINCHESTER 73, circa 1950.

Audie Murphy shakes hand with an unknown individual.

Audie Murphy tosses a pair of dice at a casino in Las Vegas. The woman in the photo is unidentified.

Audie Murphy visits Washington, D.C. and is in the company of unidentified individuals.

Audie Murphy wearing a tuxedo sits in a theater next to an unknown woman.

Audie Murphy with an unidentified woman.

Audie Murphy with film actor Aldo Ray.

Audie Murphy, with the help of actress Gale Storm's son, Lee Storm, gets ready to make the bad guys reach for the sky.

Audie stands with his long time friend, Feller Goff.

Guy Mitchell.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

Max Brand.

Texas senator Price Daniel, the narcotics sub-committee charmain, vists with Audie at the Universal-International studios.

Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.

Fort Polk, La.

Fort Wolters U.S. Highway 180 gate in 2018.

Headquarters of the NSA at Fort Meade, Maryland.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONTINUED ON PAGE-2

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Report Abuse

Watermark theme. Powered by Blogger.