Audie Murphy
USABiography of Audie Murphy
Audie Leon Murphy, an American soldier and actor, was born on June 20, 1925, in Texas. He was the sixth of twelve children in a family of tenant farmers. Murphy's father abandoned the family in 1939, and his mother passed away when he was a teenager. Due to financial difficulties, Murphy dropped out of school in the fifth grade and worked odd jobs to support his family. His exceptional skill in hunting provided food for the table and proved valuable in combat.
With the help of his older sister, Murphy falsified documents to join the army before the official draft age. However, due to his small stature (165 cm), he was unable to join the desired Marine Corps. It was not until he reached the age of majority that Murphy was accepted into the US Army. He witnessed his first combat actions when Allied forces invaded Sicily and Anzio in 1943.
In 1944, Murphy participated in the liberation of Rome and the invasion of southern France. He fought in Montélimar and successfully led his men in the assault on a quarry in northeastern France in October 1944. Murphy was promoted to officer on October 14, 1944. After recovering from a gunshot wound, he returned to his unit on January 25, 1945, and became a company commander. Despite being wounded by a mortar shell, Murphy ordered his soldiers to retreat while he single-handedly held off the enemy with his rifle. He adjusted artillery fire by telephone and was wounded in the leg before leaving his position only after the phone line was cut. Murphy received the Medal of Honor for his bravery.
After the war, Murphy pursued a successful acting career. In 1945, he received advice from actor James Cagney to try his hand at acting, and in September of the same year, Murphy moved to Hollywood. Despite his military fame, Murphy struggled in the early years, taking on minor roles. However, his breakthrough came with the film "Bad Boy" in 1948, where his performance received critical acclaim. Following this, Murphy signed a contract with Universal Studios.
In 1955, he portrayed himself in the biopic "To Hell and Back," based on his memoir published in 1949. Murphy appeared in numerous western films, including the commercially successful "The Kid from Texas" in 1950. He also starred in various television series and led the cast of the show "Whispering Smith." His last film projects were "40 Guns to Apache Pass" and "A Time for Dying."
Murphy suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and slept with a loaded gun under his pillow. Seeking relief from his mental anguish, he developed a dependency on sleeping pills. In the last years of his life, the actor faced financial difficulties. Despite this, he refused to endorse alcoholic and tobacco products, not wanting to set a bad example.
Audie Murphy tragically died in an airplane crash in Virginia on May 28, 1971, shortly before his 46th birthday. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
