Lt. Audie L. Murphy, a revered figure in American military history, exemplifies leadership and embodies the seven Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. He inspired fellow soldiers by consistently exceeding expectations and overcoming challenges.
In his memoir “To Hell and Back”, the author shares his personal perspective on embodying characteristics that can inspire readers. I will now delve into his leadership qualities and examine the true essence of being a leader. Interestingly, the autobiography does not begin with the modest origins of a poverty-stricken sharecropper from Hunt County, Texas. Instead, it commences in a more fitting place for him: the battlefield.
After training in N. Africa (Casablanca, Morocco) with the Third Infantry Division for months, he received orders for his Division to join the assault on Sicily on July 10, 1943, and later move into Italy to push German forces back. As a young and proud warrior, he experienced excitement when entering battle, but soon feelings of coldness and fear took over. Despite these emotions, he managed to rise above them and fulfill his duties on every occasion.
During his assault on Sicily and the main Italian peninsula, Lt. Murphy achieved his first kill by shooting two Italian officers who were attempting to escape on horseback. His marksmanship skills, developed during his childhood hunting experiences, and his strong work ethic, formed through tasks such as picking cotton, plowing, and garage work, had prepared him for this specific purpose. Throughout the beginning of this book, Lt. Murphy recalls various flashbacks that hint at the origins of his unwavering courage. To fully comprehend Lt. Murphy’s character, it is necessary to briefly delve into the years prior to his Army service.
Born Audie Leon Murphy on June 20, 1924, Lt. Murphy was the sixth of twelve children and the oldest son to Emmet Berry Murphy and Josie Bell. In 1936, his father abandoned them, forcing Lt. Murphy to drop out of school in the 5th grade and take odd jobs to support his family.
Throughout his youth, he acquired leadership skills by caring for his family’s needs. Inspired by a desire to make a difference and provide for his loved ones, he chose to enlist in the military following the example of his veteran uncle.
Despite facing opposition and rejection from the Marines, Navy, and Army Paratroopers because of his small stature and youthful appearance, this determined young leader remained undeterred and refused to accept defeat. On his 17th birthday in June 1942, he managed to join the Army by presenting a document signed by his older sister as proof of his age. This story emphasizes an often neglected aspect of his leadership – possessing a clear purpose.
Throughout this book, there is a clear affection for his mother, who passed away in 1941. This love for his mother served as a constant source of motivation for him to persevere in his daily battles. Various characters are introduced in this memoir; some become close friends while others he did not particularly care for. However, regardless of his personal feelings towards them, he fought for all of them equally as soldiers. After completing his responsibilities in Italy, he was promoted to the rank of corporal despite falling ill with malaria. Despite this setback, his commitment to his mission and his fellow soldier compelled him to push through and return to the battlefield before fully recovering against the wishes of his superiors.
Despite regretting his decision to be in combat, he continued to drive on due to his selfless service. He served alongside a group of animated characters, including “Horseface” Johnson (the storyteller), Kerrigan, “Snuffy” Jones (the preacher), Mike Novak (the Polish), Valentino, Bergman (a blue-eyed Swede), Jackoby (the arrogant kid), Thompson (the deserter), Swope (the Cherokee), Sanchez, Drago (the Italian), Anderson, Cooper, Mason, Ward… etc, and of course Lattie Tipton, also known as Brandon (his close friend).
Audie Murphy exemplified personal courage and selfless service through his interactions with fellow soldiers. A notable incident occurred in Salerno, following the events in Sicily. Murphy and his comrades experienced an ambush by German soldiers in which Murphy promptly assumed leadership, directing his men to seek refuge in a quarry. In the face of the advancing Germans, Murphy’s team responded with formidable machine gun fire, thwarting the enemy’s progress. Despite casualties among Murphy’s group, they managed to eliminate a number of German soldiers and take the remaining ones captive.
Due to his leadership and actions, he was promptly promoted to sergeant. While stationed at the Volturno River in the frigid mountains of Anzio beachhead, he witnessed further casualties among his comrades. Nonetheless, he showcased additional acts of bravery by instructing newly arrived soldiers in the fundamentals of warfare and maintaining control over his emotions throughout these challenging circumstances. Murphy’s tour reached a critical turning point following his arrival in Southern France for Operation Dragoon.
After being fired upon by a heavy machine gun, Murphy and Brandon (who insisted on joining him) seek higher ground to try and eliminate the shooter. However, Brandon is tricked into a false surrender and is fatally shot. In response, Murphy becomes unhinged and performs one of his bravest acts. He single-handedly eliminates the machine gunner, then takes control of the gun and uses grenades to eliminate all other nearby enemies. This action exemplifies all the qualities valued by the Army. Despite being driven by overwhelming emotions, it reveals Murphy’s genuine character.
Despite being surrounded by complaints and reasons to complain, Murphy never voiced his own grievances in this memoir. He consistently complied with orders, never quitting or failing to finish his tasks. Even in situations where others were abandoning their posts, succumbing to death, or requesting to leave due to minor injuries, Murphy displayed determination to carry on with his mission. Enduring months of sleeping in a foxhole during freezing temperatures, consuming food from tin cans, and battling through blistered feet, Murphy persevered through all kinds of pain, be it physical or emotional.
Many of his close friends, including two love interests he had met in Italy and while recovering from malaria in the hospital, fell. Despite facing these losses, he remained resilient and took each day as it came. He never succumbed to the immense pressure. Not long after, he was promoted from staff sergeant to second lieutenant through a battlefield commission. In this phase of the war, Murphy achieved an extraordinary feat that would later earn him the Medal of Honor, cementing his place in war history.
In Holtwihr, France, despite being advised to stay in the rear, Murphy ignored the advice after recovering from a gunshot wound to the hip and went back to the front. He discovered that his unit had been severely damaged and many of his close friends had died in encounters with German soldiers. While in action, he was injured again by a mortar round, resulting in the deaths of more soldiers around him. Murphy tried to halt the enemy by firing suppressive shots and then selflessly instructed the remaining few men to retreat while he stayed behind to operate a deserted tank that was on fire.
Murphy overcame his fear of death and bravely entered the smoky haze where he had last spotted the Germans. He used a partially functioning phone inside the tank to urgently call for artillery support and rallied the remaining friendly soldiers to drive out the remaining German troops. After being relieved from active combat and returning to base, Murphy rapidly earned promotion to first lieutenant and was appointed as a liaison officer. Lt. Murphy was awarded the esteemed Medal of Honor in acknowledgment of his courageous actions, which led to an essential victory and advanced the cause of Allied forces.
Lt. Murphy was honored with multiple awards during his three-year service, which included the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, French Legion of Honor, French Croix de Guerre, and Belgium Croix de Guerre. His remarkable collection of accolades has earned him the distinction of being recognized as “the most decorated soldier of World War II”. In his book “To Hell and Back”, Lt. Murphy provides a comprehensive account of the brutal realities experienced in war and the challenging decisions that true leaders must face. Despite encountering these difficulties, Lt. Murphy remained steadfast in his commitment to never abandon a fallen comrade while exhibiting composure and determination towards achieving success.
Lieutenant Murphy consistently displayed a readiness to “deploy, engage, and destroy the enemy,” motivating his troops to surpass expectations. His many acts of heroism embodied the Army Values, inspiring present and future leaders to persist and highlighting the significant influence of one person. Ultimately, Lt. Murphy set a standard for all soldiers, establishing both mental and physical expectations. It is our duty to emulate his example.
Work Cited
- Murphy, Audie. To Hell and Back. New York: Picador, 2002. Print.
