LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Audie Murphy: Infantry Division
built 277 days ago
Audie Murphy was one of the best fighting combat soldiers of this or any other century. All who knew and served with him during WWII, admired and respected his ability, courage, and leadership. Many times Murphy went out on patrol alone so his men wouldn't get injured or killed. His single-handed ”duels” with enemy snipers during this period was legendary within the Third Infantry Division.
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In 1950, Audie joined the 36th Infantry Division ("T-Patcher") of the Texas National Guard and served with it until 1966. He was killed in a plane crash on a mountain top near Roanoke, Virginia, on May 28, 1971. Fittingly, his body was recovered two days later on Memorial Day.
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With his phone, Murphy called in artillery fire on the advancing German infantry. German tanks were approaching on his sides, but Murphy climbed onto a burning tank destroyer—which could have exploded at any second—and began firing its .50-caliber machine gun. He killed dozens of German soldiers, forcing the tanks to fall back due to lack of infantry protection. One German squad sneaking up on Murphy’s right got as close as 10 yards from him before he detected the threat. He shot the whole squad down. Somewhere along the way, Murphy got hit in the leg, but he kept fighting until he ran out of ammunition.
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In 1950, Audie joined the 36th Infantry Division (T-Patchers) of the Texas National Guard and served with it until 1966. He was a Mason and a Shriner and belonged to several veterans’ organizations.
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On January 26, Murphy and Company B found themselves on the outskirts of woods facing the German village of Holtzwihr. The day dawned miserably cold and uncomfortable as the small American force waited tensely for an attack. Finally, six German tanks supported by infantry began moving toward them from the village and quickly put two American tank destroyers near Murphy’s company out of action. Murphy sent his men back, but he stayed put with his field telephone. He was only 20 years old, and it did not look like he would live to see 21.
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As the 3rd Division continued their advance, Audie was wounded in the heel by a shell fragment. He received the Purple Heart and spent two weeks in an Evac hospital. After returning to his unit, they were ambushed while on patrol. Audie, who crawled out of the ambush zone, charged the enemy position and using two hand grenades, silenced it. For this action, which saved the lives of this patrol, Audie was awarded the Silver Star. Several days later, his platoon was ambushed again and several more soldiers were killed. Audie grabbed a radio and crawled forward to where he could see the enemy position.
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Infantry Division