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timtom -> RE: 62 Years ago today........... (1/28/2007 8:29:15 PM)
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ORIGINAL: m10bob
Over a period of time, some people begin to have second thoughts and even doubts of past accomplishments.
Some folks say the Holocaust and the Battle of Britain never happened.
If folks feel that way about such recent events, maybe they will be seen as myths in another 100 years.
Murphy's deeds that day were witnessed by both sides.
The attack (as I recall) was at least company strength, and closer to battalion.
The Germans my father fought were not the cowards to lose less than fifty men to call off an attack.
If you won't appreciate Murphy's deeds, don't denigrate those of the Germans either.[:-]
"CITATION: 2d Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone.
Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry.
With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back.
For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted.
He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.
On March 5, 1945, 1st Lieutenant Audie Murphy was called to Nancy, France by order of the 3rd Infantry Division Commander, Major General John "Iron-Mike" O'Daniel. On this day, General O'Daniel presented to 1st Lieutenant Murphy the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star.
After 'Iron Mike" pinned the medals on Audie's uniform, he pulled out of his pocket a Medal of Honor. Without giving it to Audie, O'Daniel showed the medal to him and stated that General Alexander Patch, the 7th Army Commander, would soon pin it on Audie during a different ceremony.
He was America's greatest World War II hero, at one point single-handedly holding off 250 German soldiers and six tanks. But despite winning acclaim and stardom, he could never escape the pain and trauma of the conflict that made him a hero. Through clips from his films, newsreel footage and the memories of those who knew him including his sister the heroic but tragic tale of Audie Murphy comes to life."
Biographical Sketch of
AUDIE LEON MURPHY
Courtesy of Richard L. Rodgers
Webmaster of the
Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website
Not out to denigrate anyone here, Robert. History is about critical enquiry as far as I'm concerned, not apotheosis. With respect I'm not sure the "Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website" can entirely free itself from the suspicion of bias. Honours citations are by their nature celebrations and as an account of what actually happened I would approach them with some causion. The only other account retelling the event that I know of is Murphy's own, which is quite modest. If just half of what we're told took place is true, Murphy displayed extraordinary courage and killed an awful lot of people
quote:
ORIGINAL: Big B
All good observations, but remember that though Murphy was alone in his exposed position, his company was still within range to witness his predicament (i.e. they did not pull back miles away - they were in nearby woods and under cover as I recall reading).
If this conjection (?) is true, then others in the company would have been able to fire and/or direct fire onto the oncoming enemy. If so, clearly Murphy then didn't beat off the enemy all on his own. If not, then we'll have to explain why his comrades failed to intervene at this critical junction.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Big B
The second point is that (IIRC) - his unit held the field after the action, and a casual check of the battlefield after the action should have been no great difficulty once the Germans withdrew. So getting an accurate estimate of the fallen enemy soldiers on the field should have been easy to do.
Providing it was realised that something extraordinary had happened, and providing anyone cared, and providing anyone actually had the opportunity, then yes, it would be an easy thing to do. Whether anyone would want to spend half an hour so so poking round an open field within range of the enemy is another matter.
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