Murphy left school in fifth grade to pick cotton and find other work to help support his family his skill with a hunting rifle helped feed his family.Īfter the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Murphy's older sister helped him to falsify documentation about his birthdate in order to meet the minimum age requirement for enlisting in the military. His father abandoned them, and his mother died when he was a teenager. Murphy was born into a large family of sharecroppers in Hunt County, Texas. Murphy received the Medal of Honor for valor that he demonstrated at the age of 19 for single-handedly holding off a company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945, then leading a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition. Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. He received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. Expert Badge with Bayonet Component BarĪudie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – ) was an American soldier, actor, songwriter, and rancher.Marksman Badge with Rifle Component Bar.French fourragère in colors of the Croix de Guerre.French Croix de Guerre with silver star.French Legion of Honour (grade of Chevalier).
Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp.European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (9 campaigns, arrowhead device).