[robz71lm7]

Thanks to those that served and those that are right now.

My personal hero:

(IMG:http://www.audiemurphy.com/gallery/MIL-TRDR.JPG)

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.

[Crazy Canuck]

had a moment of silence this morning @ 11h00 out of respect for the lost hero lives.

[patred]

Thanks to those that served and those that are right now.

My personal hero:

(IMG:http://www.audiemurphy.com/gallery/MIL-TRDR.JPG)

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.

I watched "To Hell and Back" this morning. The movie does not do him justice at all. And Audie Murphy starred as himself! I think he might have under-dramatized himself or the Hollywood script writers tried to condense the story. The movie spent about 5-10 minutes on his Medal of Honor "scene" and didn't give a real sense of time. And he was just a kid (21) and by all accounts was a scrawny runt (5' 7" under 120 lbs).

Pat

[rpoz-29]

I like Alvin York's story from WWI. Pretty good movie too. My heart goes out to the men and women in the field right now. I'll be glad to see them come home safe.

This post has been edited by rpoz-29: Nov 12 2006, 03:51 AM

[AndyJ]

Any of you with children in the Services now?

[nape]

Any of you with children in the Services now?

Not children, but my brother graduates Marine Corps boot camp on Thursday (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[rpoz-29]

Neither of my sons are in the military, but 3 or 4 boys I coached in baseball are in Iraq, or Afganistan. One is a Marine who went through the fight for Faluja. It'll be good to have them home.

[CMC #37]

My Dad was in WWI, could not get him to talk about the war. He was in the Pacific Theatre, flying B29s and the like. I miss him every day.

[AndyJ]

My son, who drove the ORR car for several races last season, just re-enlsted in the Air Force for another 6. My daughter, who is 19, is stationed in the Azores with the Air Force. My brother's oldest is in Baghdad.

It is the right place for all of them to be right now. It amazes me when I talk to them and their friends who are also in that politics never enters the conversation.

God bless 'em all.