[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E26-E27]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF AUDIE LEON MURPHY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 11, 2024

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the 
extraordinary life and legacy of Audie Murphy. Audie Leon Murphy was 
born the son of sharecroppers on June 29, 1925, near Kingston, Texas, 
and rose to national fame as the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of 
World War II. Among his 33 awards and decorations he was awarded the 
Medal of Honor, the highest military award for bravery that can be 
given to any individual in the United States, for ``conspicuous 
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the 
call of duty''. He also received nearly every decoration for valor that 
our country had to offer, as well as honors from Belgium and France. 
Murphy is credited with killing over 240 enemy soldiers, and wounding 
and capturing many others. Beginning his service as an Army Private, 
Murphy quickly rose to the enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant, then was 
given a ``battlefield commission'' as 2nd Lieutenant. He fought in 9 
major campaigns across the European Theater, and he was wounded three 
times.
  Upon returning to the United States after the end of World War ll, 
Murphy received a hero's welcome. He appeared on the cover of Life 
Magazine, which led James Cagney to invite Murphy to Hollywood in 
September 1945. His 1949 autobiography ``To Hell and Back'' was a best 
seller which was made into a movie in 1955, in which Audie Murphy 
starred as himself. The movie held the record as Universal's highest 
grossing picture until 1975 when it was surpassed by the movie 
``Jaws.'' Over Murphy's time in Hollywood, he made a total of 44 
feature films and a 26-episode western television series.
  In 1955, Murphy became interested in Freemasonry. Encouraged by his 
close friend, Texas theater owner Skipper Cherry, he petitioned and 
joined the Masonic Order in California. Later he returned to Texas to 
conduct his 32-degree work where he joined the Shriners. Murphy 
remained active in various masonic events and was a member of good 
standing at the time of his death.
  Murphy suffered from what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress 
Disorder (PTSD) and suffered from chronic insomnia and depression. 
Always an advocate for the needs of veterans, Murphy spoke out candidly 
about his personal problems with PTSD, then referred to as ``Battle 
Fatigue.'' He publicly called for the United States government to study 
the emotional impact war has on veterans and to extend health care 
benefits to address PTSD and other mental health problems of returning 
war veterans.
  On May 28, 1971, Murphy was killed when the small plane in which he 
was a passenger crashed on the side of a mountain near Roanoke, 
Virginia. On June 7, 1971, Audie Murphy was buried with full military 
honors in Arlington National Cemetery. His gravesite is the second most 
visited gravesite in the Cemetery.
  On June 9, 1999, the Texas Legislature officially designated his 
birthday, June 20th, as Audie Murphy Day. Governor George W. Bush

[[Page E27]]

of Texas made a similar proclamation declaring June 20th officially to 
be Audie Murphy Day in the State of Texas. On October 29, 2013, 
Governor Rick Perry posthumously presented him with the Texas 
Legislative Medal of Honor. Audie Murphy is an American hero and a 
distinguished Texan. I am proud to honor his legacy today.

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