Audie Murphy awarded another medal
Audie Murphy, arguably the most famous American soldier in history, was awarded yet another medal yesterday. Texas governor, Rick Perry posthumously awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Murphy who had earned 28 medals for his service in the 3rd Infantry Division as it battered the German war machine during World War II. From the Associated Press;
Perry was in the small town of Farmersville on Tuesday and bestowed the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor on Murphy posthumously.
He said Murphy “lives on in the hearts and memories of a generation of Americans.”
Murphy was one of the most decorated soldiers in U.S. history. His portrait hangs in the Texas House chamber.
Born in Hunt County, Murphy joined the U.S. Army in 1942 and served with the 3rd Infantry Division in Europe and Mediterranean.
Category: Real Soldiers
In case anyone thinks that Texas forgot about Audie Murphy or that this is political grandstandin, it hadn’t and it isn’t. The medal was first presented in 1997 and was limited to one medal per year. (The limit is now two per year.) There was a huge backlog of nominated servicemen. Here’s a terrific article regarding the award and Murphy (it includes a picture of his sister) from June 2013. The article points out that Murphy was eligible not because he was a native son but because of his post-war service in the Texas Guard. It also contains the famous quote that Murphy was reported to have replied when asked how close the Germans were to his position: “Just hold the phone and I’ll let you talk to one of the bastards.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/us/audie-murphy-a-texas-hero-still-missing-one-medal.html?_r=0
Isn’t this just piling on a little bit? I mean he was a Texas Bad Ass, no question about it, a war god among me, who I picture sauntering up to Fiddlers Green and nut punching the first Cav guy who tells him he can’t be there. So adding another bit of bling to his collection, just seems a little anti-climatic.
A better, more fitting reward would be to teach people about who he was, what he did, why he did it, and how he overcame his later life struggles. Start teaching that in elementary school, rather than this chuck norris bs.
Texas can do what Texas damn wants to do Kane. And, how many people today are reading about this (or did back in June in the NYT aricle above) and are either being reminded of Murphy or learning about him for the first time? I never learned about Murphy in school. My father first told me about him. It’s enough that kids today know that there was a World War II, let alone anything about a specfic soldier. And, yes, Murphy might nut punch a Cav trooper and, if it wasn’t deserved, the rest of the troopers would then repay him.
As a marketing idea – this one seems just fine to me. We need to find ways to pass our national heroes names and deeds along to generations following.
I have no problem with this; Murphy was a hero’s hero and a giant amongst the ranks.
And honestly Sgt Kane, at this point things like this aren’t done for him; they are done for us, to freshen the legend that was the man and to ensure Murphy’s legacy of honor and fortitude in the face of overwhelming odds remains intact for current and future generations to measure themselves against.
If I didn’t love Arizona so much I’d consider moving to Texas, way to go guys! 🙂
In addition to everything he did in service to the nation this was a guy who was never seduced by the alcohol and tobacco industries into making commercials because he felt it would be a negative influence on young people even while he was struggling with money problems…
Strong men of honor can never be “over-recognized” for their actions, there are very few men like this who ever live. Making new generations aware of what the previous ones have done to ensure their continued existence is an appropriate action all the time.
He earned this if based only on the PTSD work he did. Simple as that.
Kane – when was the last time you saw Audie Murphy remembered in the media? You want him remembered…. this is one of the best ways to do it.
If you have never been to the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website, wait until you have an hour or two to spend there. The site was established by Terry Murphy, Audie’s eldest son. It is chocked-full of very, very, very cool stuff. There’s a box for Holzwihr that details, with pics, what was found at the site by an interested fellow with a metal detector in 1996. Enjoy–and teach.
http://www.audiemurphy.com/index.htm
I remember reading about Audie Murphy while at USMAPS, in my bountiful spare minutes. I will revere this man to my grave.
One of America’s real heroes. IMO, right up there with Alvin York, Chesty Puller, Joshua Chamberlain at Little Round Top, et al.
With all that bling, if I didn’t know any better, I’d have accused him of being a poser. But obviously, I do know better.
Long live the memory of Audie Murphy and his deeds and heroism.