[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 21, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1910]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      AUDIE MURPHY, TEXAS WARRIOR

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 21, 2005

  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a native Texan and 
the most decorated United States soldier of World War II. Audie Leon 
Murphy was born into humble beginnings in northeast Texas near 
Kingston, Texas. He grew up in nearby Celeste, Texas. A sharecropper's 
son, he was the 6th of 12 children, only 9 of whom survived to see 
their 18th birthday. Murphy grew up in extreme poverty. By his ninth 
birthday, he had already become an impressive rifle shot due to the 
fact that he spent a good portion of his childhood hunting rabbits and 
squirrels for food for his family's table. He had no idea that his 
shooting skills would be needed later.
  When he wasn't hunting, he took odd jobs around the community--on 
farms, gas stations and local grocery stores. When Audie was 12, his 
father left his mother and the children to fend for themselves. He 
never returned and Audie became the breadwinner for the family. At age 
16, he was working at a radio repair shop and tragedy struck his life 
yet again. His mother died and he and his siblings were left orphans.
  In desperate need of money to help support his siblings, he tried to 
join the military. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Audie tried to 
enlist but was rejected because he was too young. Eventually he was 
accepted into the U.S. Army after being turned down by the Navy, 
Marines and Army Paratroopers because he was too short at only 5 feet, 
5 inches tall and 110 pounds. He signed the papers a few days after his 
18th birthday and was sent to training at Fort Wolters, Texas. During 
one of his first training sessions, he fell flat on his face and was 
knocked out cold. The company commanders took this opportunity to 
encourage him to pursue other opportunities such as cook or bakers 
school but he would have nothing of it. He persisted and was resolute 
about becoming a fierce, fighting soldier.
  After 13 weeks of Basic Training, he was sent to Fort Meade, MD for 
advanced infantry training. Upon finishing training, he was sent to 
Morocco and eventually he was appointed to a Second Lieutenant in 1944 
where he served in North Africa and in all European theaters.
  In World War II, Murphy made a name for himself and on one fated day 
he earned the Congressional Medal of Honor and went down in history. On 
January 26, 1945, Murphy is credited with holding off two reinforced 
rifle companies singlehandedly for hours. On that day, Murphy's platoon 
was attacked by 6 enemy tanks and waves of infantry. To keep his men 
safe, Murphy ordered his men to withdraw, while he remained forward at 
his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery 
by telephone. Behind him, a U.S. tank destroyer received a direct hit. 
With the enemy tanks abreast of his precarious position, Second Lt. 
Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of 
blowing up at any moment, and engaged his .50 caliber machinegun 
against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 
sides, but his determination and deadly fire killed dozens of Germans 
and caused their infantry to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry 
support, began to fall back. For an additional hour the Germans tried 
any and all of their weapons to eliminate Murphy, but he continued to 
hold his position and wiped out a squad that was attempting to sneak up 
unnoticed. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down 
by his fierce fire. Wounded in one leg, Murphy continued the single-
handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. His directing of 
artillery fire killed or wounded about 50 enemy combatants.

  Second Lt. Murphy's unconquerable courage and his refusal to give up 
saved his company from destruction, and enabled it to protect and hold 
the woods which had been the enemy's objective. He was a legendary and 
heroic American. In the end, he was credited with killing more than 240 
German soldiers. Because of his valor in combat and action above and 
beyond the call of duty, he received the Congressional Medal of Honor 
and every other medal that the Army awards. He earned the Silver Star 
twice in three days, three Purple Hearts, and the Distinguished Service 
Cross. He even received 5 decorations that were presented to him by 
Belgium and France. When he was discharged, his face was on the front 
page of Life magazine and when he finally made it home, he was still 
not even 21 years old yet.
  He finished WWII as a liaison officer, and returned to Texas after 
the war.
  Upon return, Audie became famous not only for his heroic war actions 
but he also hit the big screen and made the move to Hollywood. He 
starred in more than 40 Western films and even played the part of 
himself when his autobiography, ``To Hell and Back Again'' was made 
into a movie. He also wrote more than 17 country and western songs.
  Sixty years ago today, Audie was released from the Army as an active 
member and reassigned to inactive status. His final rank was Major in 
the Texas National Guard.
  After all that he went through, Audie still maintained that his 
medals belonged to his entire company and that he was just, ``another 
man.'' He never really cared about the medals or glory, just the men of 
his unit and those he left buried and missing across Europe. His son 
Terry even said that he was always embarrassed to be called a hero. He 
always said that the real heroes where those ``who didn't come back.'' 
He once said, ``I believe in all the men who stood up against the 
enemy, taking their beatings without whimper and their triumphs without 
boasting. The men who went and would go again to hell and back to 
preserve what our country thinks right and decent. My Country, 
America!''
  Audie was killed in a plane crash, on May 30, 1971. He left behind 
his wife of 20 years, 2 sons, a wealth of family and friends and a 
legacy that will live on forever.

                          ____________________