Audie Murphy

June 20, 1925 – May 28, 1971

Lieutenant Audie Leon Murphy was perhaps the most famous and one of the most decorated infantry soldiers from World War II. During his tours in the Mediterranean and Europe, Murphy received a number of honors including, but certainly not limited to, a Medal of Honor, THREE Purple Hearts, Silver Stars, Bronze Stars, a Legion of Merit…you get the picture. Audie Murphy was not messing around.  He was a true hero.

Despite post-war, life-long struggles with what would later become known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Murphy was able to parlay his poplularity into a 20 year career in flim. He mostly appeared in westerns and war films, and also played himself in his autobiographical flim To Hell and Back.  And just for good measure, he also wrote more than a dozen country and western songs.

Murphy continued to serve later in life in the Texas National Guard.  In May of 1971, Murphy and 5 others were killed when their plane crashed in the Virginia mountains.

Burial

Arlington National Cemetery – Arlington, VA

Specific Location

Section 46 Lot 366-11 Grid O/P-22.5; Behind the Memorial Ampitheater (on the opposite side as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) just off the road, there’s a small sidewalk that directs visitors to Murphy’s grave.