Audie Murphy

Audie Leon Murphy (June 20, 1925 – May 28, 1971) was one of the most famous and decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. He served in the European Theater of Operations where he earned the Medal of Honor and several other decorations for combat heroism including combat decorations from France and Belgium. He was born into poverty on a farm in northeast Texas and was named for two family friends who kept the Murphys from starving. One of his namesakes assisted with his birth. Murphy lied about his age to enlist in the military and follow his dream.of becoming a soldier. He was only 19 years old when the Medal of Honor was pinned on his chest. Murphy always maintained that the medals on his uniform belonged to his entire military unit. His postwar stress caused him to sleep with a loaded gun under his pillow for the rest of his life, looking for solace in addictive sleeping pills. Murphy drew public attention to what would in later wars be labeled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) . The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio is named for him.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie Murphy