Recognizing the Life and Legacy of Audie Leon Murphy

Floor Speech

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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the extraordinary life and legacy of Audie Murphy. Audie Leon Murphy was born the son of sharecroppers on June 29, 1925, near Kingston, Texas, and rose to national fame as the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of World War II. Among his 33 awards and decorations he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military award for bravery that can be given to any individual in the United States, for ``conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty''. He also received nearly every decoration for valor that our country had to offer, as well as honors from Belgium and France. Murphy is credited with killing over 240 enemy soldiers, and wounding and capturing many others. Beginning his service as an Army Private, Murphy quickly rose to the enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant, then was given a ``battlefield commission'' as 2nd Lieutenant. He fought in 9 major campaigns across the European Theater, and he was wounded three times.

Upon returning to the United States after the end of World War ll, Murphy received a hero's welcome. He appeared on the cover of Life Magazine, which led James Cagney to invite Murphy to Hollywood in September 1945. His 1949 autobiography ``To Hell and Back'' was a best seller which was made into a movie in 1955, in which Audie Murphy starred as himself. The movie held the record as Universal's highest grossing picture until 1975 when it was surpassed by the movie ``Jaws.'' Over Murphy's time in Hollywood, he made a total of 44 feature films and a 26-episode western television series.

In 1955, Murphy became interested in Freemasonry. Encouraged by his close friend, Texas theater owner Skipper Cherry, he petitioned and joined the Masonic Order in California. Later he returned to Texas to conduct his 32-degree work where he joined the Shriners. Murphy remained active in various masonic events and was a member of good standing at the time of his death.

Murphy suffered from what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suffered from chronic insomnia and depression. Always an advocate for the needs of veterans, Murphy spoke out candidly about his personal problems with PTSD, then referred to as ``Battle Fatigue.'' He publicly called for the United States government to study the emotional impact war has on veterans and to extend health care benefits to address PTSD and other mental health problems of returning war veterans.

On May 28, 1971, Murphy was killed when the small plane in which he was a passenger crashed on the side of a mountain near Roanoke, Virginia. On June 7, 1971, Audie Murphy was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. His gravesite is the second most visited gravesite in the Cemetery.

On June 9, 1999, the Texas Legislature officially designated his birthday, June 20th, as Audie Murphy Day. Governor George W. Bush of Texas made a similar proclamation declaring June 20th officially to be Audie Murphy Day in the State of Texas. On October 29, 2013, Governor Rick Perry posthumously presented him with the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor. Audie Murphy is an American hero and a distinguished Texan. I am proud to honor his legacy today.

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