Honorable Ralph M. Hall 4th Congressional District of Texas

Audie Murphy was indeed a legend in his own time - and a hero for all times. For his valor in combat and action above and beyond the call of duty, he received every medal the Army awards. He earned the Silver Star twice in 3 days, three Purple Hearts, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Medal of Honor.

The Citation to the Medal of Honor recognized 2d. Lt. Audie Murphy, 15th Infantry, for his valor on January 26, 1945, near Holtzwihr, France. His Company B was attacked by six tanks and waves of infantry. Second Lieutenant Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepare positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post to direct the artillery. One of his company's tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Lieutenant Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer and trained its machinegun on the enemy, killing dozens and causing their infantry attack to waver. He held his position for more than an hour, received a leg wound, but continued the 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 enemy to withdraw. The Citation reads, "Lieutenant 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."

Audie received the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism on August 15, 1944, near Ramatuelle, France. On this date, according to the award citation, "His extraordinary heroism resulted in the capture of a fiercely contested enemy-held hill and the annihilation or capture of the entire enemy garrison."

And yet Audie believed that his medals belonged to every man in his company and he always maintained that he was just "another man." His humility stemmed perhaps from a humble beginning near Kingston, TX and years of living in poverty. Audie had quit school in the eigth grade to help support his mother and eight siblings. He hunted small game to supply food for the family, and become an expert marksman. He took odd jobs wherever he could find them - on a farm, a filling station and grocery store, a radio repair shop. But Audie made up for his lack of education with a brilliant mind, great dignity, and a sense of composure that impressed all those who met him.

Following the war, James Cagney extended him an invitation to visit Hollywood, where he signed an acting contract. His best-selling autobiograhy, TO HELL AND BACK, was made into a successful movie in which Audie played the starring role. His specialty was small-budget westerns, but Audie never really liked acting, and he pursued several business ventures over the years. It was on one of these ventures that he was killed in a plane crash near Roanoke, VA, on May 30, 1971. He left behind his wife of 20 years, Pamela Archer, two sons, Terry and James Shannon, other family members and hundreds of friends and admirers.

Since that time the Audie L. Murphy National Memorial Tribute Committee, headed by Louis J. Parillo, has honored his memory by awarding the ALM Patriotism Portrait Awards. The awards are presented in groups of three to represent our Nation's Triad Defense System, and this 25th anniversary of Audie's death will mark the final presentation. Recipients in the order presented, include: The American Security Counil, Maj. Gen. John K. Singlaub, USA Ret., Gen William C. Westmoreland, USA Ret.; Gen Louis H. Wilson, USMC Ret., The Marine Attack Squadron 131, 4th Marine Air Wing, Fourth Marine Division; Gen Omar Bradley, USA Ret., 28th Division PNG, First Army; Headquarters 3rd Infantry Division U.S. Army, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), U.S. Army Parachute Team (Golden Knights); North American Air Defense Command, 112th Fighter Group, Pennsylvania ANG, 910th Special Operations Group, USAFR; City of New Castle, PA, County of Lawrence, Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, Department of Defense; Robert Bleier (Trustee for Vietnam Veterans), Congressman Olin "Tiger" Teague (posthumously), President Ronald W. Reagan; The Honorable William J. Perry, Secretary of Defense, The American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, we are joined today by Audie Murphy's family, his friends, and his many fans in paying this final tribute to WWII's most decorated war hero. Perhaps the finest tribute would be to place in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD two odes composed by Audie Leon Murphy. These reflect his thoughts and feelings for his fallen comrades and reveal to us, more than any words of our own could possibly reveal, the full measure of this great American.