April 1, 2025 - Bill O’Neal blessed the Timpson Area Genealogy and Heritage Society (TAGHS) with a riveting program on Audie Murphy and his heroic WW II exploits. Audie was the most decorated US soldier in WW II, earning 33 Medals, 12 of them being for valor, for his service to the US (see attached photo of hi medal collection). His story is one of almost unbelievable ability, bravery, and service, making one proud to be a Texan. O’Neal can give dates and details for each medal.
Audie proved that heroes can come in all sizes from all backgrounds. Born 20 June 1925 in the Kingston community, between Greenville and Celeste, TX, he was 7th of 12 children born to a poor sharecropper family.
Audie wanted to fight in WW II, but was underage, 5’ 5” tall, and weighed 110 lbs. He tried to enlist in the Marines, Navy, and the Paratroops. They did not want him. His older sister, Corinne, signed a letter giving his age as 1 year older than he really was. He was then able to join the army.
His father left his family periodically for long periods of time. His mother fed the kids and tried to keep her family in the Kingston community, together. Twice they wound up living in an abandoned boxcar. Audie hunted squirrels & rabbits with his rifle to help his mom feed the family, becoming a crack shot in the process.
He attended grades 1-4 in Celeste in a brick two-story building that no longer stands. Audie tried to go to the 5th grade in Floyd in a one-story school building that still stands, although no longer in use as a school. He had to drop out to pick cotton to help feed his family.
His family moved often because of lack of finances. After coping with her family’s difficult circumstances, his mother died young.
Audie was born in Texas, a state with strong military traditions:
War: Civil War
TX Male Population: 92,000
TX Males Serving: 70,000
TX Females Serving:
War: WWI
TX Male Population:
TX Males Serving: 200,000
TX Females Serving:
War: WW II
TX Male Population:
TX Males Serving: 830,000
TX Females Serving: 12,000
Texas had over 80 military bases during WW II. Over 1.5 million soldiers were trained in Texas. In fact, Texas A & M was basically a military school at that time. Texas also had a wide range of terrain, climate, vegetation, and was military friendly. Audie loved military life.
Another notable native Texan WW II military person mentioned by O’Neal was Dwight D. Eisenhower, General of the Army, Supreme Allied Commander, Allied Expeditionary Forces, who was born 14 Oct 1890, Denison, TX. He was also the 34th President of the US, serving two terms.
A third WW II native Texan military notable O’Neal spoke of was Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz (24 Feb 1885 – 20 Feb 1966). Nimitz was a Fredericksburg, TX, native.
Yet another Texas hero of WW II, Samuel David Dealey (13 September 1906 – 24 August 1944) was born in Dallas, TX (think Dealey Plaza). Dealey was a submarine commander. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously, and already had received several other medals of valor. He was killed when his submarine, Harder, was destroyed in action in the South China Sea during WW II. The Allies got to Europe November 1942.
On 29 June 1942 Audie Murphy signed papers In the Greenville, TX, Post Office to join the Army. The next day he was sworn into the Army in Dallas, TX. After going through basic training at Camp Wolters near Mineral Wells, TX, Audie was sent to Fort George C. Meade for advanced infantry training with the 76th Infantry Division until Jan 1943.
Audie’s troop (Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment), part of the 3rd Infantry Division, arrived in Casablanca, Morocco 20 Feb 1943.
Audie Murphy was a terrific fighting machine, according to O’Neal. He had keen eyesight, keen hearing (amazing considering all the loud military gunfire & the other loud sounds surrounding him), moved quickly, thought quickly, understood terrain, and was a superb leader. He protected his men, never hesitating to do the riskier things himself. He singlehandedly accomplished many battle-field exploits.
Several times he would be injured, bandage himself, and go back to fighting. One time he had a wound that became gangrenous. He recovered and went back to fighting. He made Staff Sergeant 25 January 1944. He went on to become a Platoon Sergeant.
Audie used the following guns and device, at least partially chosen for the circumstances and the need:
1. M1, Semi-automatic rifle, clip held 8 rounds
2. Tommy Gun, for house-to-house action, has drum with 30 or 50 rounds, 45 caliber
3. BAR – Browning Automatic Rifle, Clip of 20
4. M1 Carbine, 15 – 30 rounds
5. Hand Grenade – liked to use on nests of the enemy when they were firing at him
Audie was promoted to Staff Sergeant, 3 January 1943. Audie saw service from September 1943 - August 1944 in Italy. Bill said that when Audie took some of his men into possible danger that he would place them in the probable safer spots and take the most dangerous himself. Bill recounted many of the heroic actions engaged in by Audie and his men, including one in which his friend Tipton was killed after believing a deceptive white flag move by the enemy. Another time Murphy picked up the machine gun of a dead enemy and used it to clean out a nest of the enemy.
It is unbelievable how many fighting feats Audie Murphy performed and especially that he lived to tell about it. He was an excellent military leader for his troops.
O’Neal described many of Audie Murphy’s daring military feats. O’Neal crammed into his lecture an unbelievable amount of information about a man, who, although small in stature, lived a large life. He died young but managed to do more than most people can ever do.
Once he had to spend 3 months recovering after an injury, but he went right back to work.
Murphy married twice:
- Dixie Wanda Hendrix (1928-1981) – No children
- Pamela Opal Lee Archer (1923-2010 - 2 sons
Following Audie’s death, Pamela was offered a job for the VA and worked for the Veteran’s Administration until her retirement.
Audie was discharged from the army with a 55% disability.
He rejoined the Army on the 25th of June 1950 to help in the Korean Conflict. He went “Inactive” later in 1950, since he was not getting to fight.
Audie went to chapel, did not smoke or drink, but did have a gambling problem. He did suffer from PTSD. He had PTSD as a result of his WW II service, having severe nightmares among other things.
Audie Murphy was killed in a private plane crash on 28th of May 1971. His body was identified in the remains by evidence of his old hip injury. The crash occurred when the plane he was on hit Brush Mountain, NW of Roanoke, VA. One of his Memorial Services was held in the beautiful Baptist Church in Greenville where his mother’s funeral had been held.
Audie Murphy was buried in Arlington National Cemetery near the tomb of the unknown soldier.
After his death, Audie received yet another medal, the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor. His sister Nadene accepted the medal for him.
