Who is Audie Murphy? Why is his name among the statues to be put in the National Garden of American Heroes?
President Donald Trump said during his speech at the Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore on Friday, July 3, that he will create a monument that will honor "the greatest Americans". It was reported by the Washington Examiner that the POTUS said, "I am signing an executive order to establish the National Garden of American Heroes, a vast outdoor park that will feature the statues of the greatest Americans to ever live."
The publication added that the White House also released the text of the executive order that showcased "a list of US historical figures who will receive statues in the garden." Among the many names that the "National Garden should be composed" of was that of Audie Murphy who is regarded as the "most decorated US soldier of World War II" who later joined the acting industry.
According to Britannica, the war hero and actor was born as Audie Leon Murphy on June 20, 1925. He had joined the army in 1942, having lied on a fake birth certificate that he was born in 1924 to make him eligible for enlisting. Biography reports that in 1940 Murphy's father had left the family with his mother dying a year later. It was then that Murphy had decided to enlist in the military "10 days after his 17th birthday." He had begun his training in 1943. By the time the war had ended, Murphy was only 21 and had already killed 240 German soldiers and had sustained multiple wounds, according to Biography. Britannica also reveals that the war veteran had even jumped on a burning tank destroyer to wade off enemy troops. Murphy has been the recipient of 33 awards and medals, including the Congressional Medal of Honor he had received in 1945, Distinguished Service Cross, and three Purple Hearts.
According to Biography, Muphy had returned home from Europe in June 1945 and even graced the cover of LIFE magazine on its July 16, 1945, issue. In 1949, Murphy had published his autobiography titled 'To Hell and Back' which became a bestselling release. He played himself in the film adaptation of the book. Most impressively, ever since his return from the war, Murphy had starred in over 40 films some of which include his roles as Henry Fleming in 'The Red Badge of Courage' (1951), as himself in his own story 'To Hell and Back' (1955), and the production 'The Quiet American (1958).' Muphy was also a country music songwriter, with big names such as Dean Martina and Harry Nilsson having recorded his songs.
The website further reported that Murphy suffered from "insomnia and nightmares," that was later diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which many veterans suffered. He married twice, once in 1949 to actress Wanda Hendrix whom he divorced in 1950 and a second time in 1951 to Pamela Archer, who he shared two children with. Murphy passed away on May 28, 1971, near Roanoke, Virginia, after his private plane crashed. The war hero was later buried with full military honors on June 7, 1971, at the Arlington National Cemetery.