Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website Message Boards

Mine's in an unopened box.

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Betty

I have one of these too. Mine is in storage back in Texas. I hope the government warehouse is taking care of it. Thanks for posting this Betty. This definitely needed to be included.

The story on this is that Hasbro had for YEARS been trying to get the Murphy family to approve this action toy. Pamela didn't want it made. She was really against any "war" toy of Audie. She repeatedly turned down the Hasbro offers.

A young, fresh out of college project manager for this doll (I forget his name) contacted me on this doll. I felt bad for the young man. Hasbro had almost given up on ever getting the doll approved and they gave the project to this kid thinking he probably couldn't land the contract with the Murphy family. The kid was pretty desparate. I don't think HE could land it either. He really needed a success under his belt.

I put him in touch with Larryann and the family.

Larryann and Terry took a liking to the kid and the idea was sold to Pamela on the condition that it would contain historical information on Audie's heroism. This made it okay with Pamela. It was a good thing too. She needed the money and the contract, which didn't make her rich, did give her something to help her make ends meet. The Hasbro kid was absolutely ecstatic. Larryann told me that after the contract was signed, the kid was probably good until retirement with Hasbro.

A nice story!

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Richard L. Rodgers
Webmaster
Audie Murphy Memorial Website

Thanks for the story on the doll Richard. I had never heard that before. First the stamp and then the doll. You really are a gem.

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Betty

I THINK I BOUGHT ABOUT 10 OF THESE. WENT ALL OVER THE STATE TO WALMART, TARGET, ETC. AND BOUGHT EVERY ONE I COULD FIND. GAVE MOST AWAY TO AUDIE FANS AND COLLECTORS BUT KEPT TWO. HAVE ONE STILL SEALED IN THE BOX AND ANOTHER IN A GLASS DISPLAY CASE. BOUGHT ANOTHER OFF EBAY SOMEBODY PUT ON THERE THAT HAD AUDIE DRESSED UP IN A CAVALRY UNIFORM COMPLETE WITH THE RIFLE LIKE IN GUNS OF FT PETTICOAT. GOT IT FOR $15 I THINK.

David, you could start your own museum! You have more wonderful things than anyone I know. Do you have everything in a big room?

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Betty

I WISH. TOO MANY KIDS! I HAVE BOTH COLLECTOR GUNS, DOLLS, MINI-STATUE, GLOBE YOU GAVE ME, AUDIE CD CLOCK, ETC. IN AND ON MY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER IN OUR BEDROOM. THE HUGE SOLDEWEL PAINTING IN THE FRAME IN THE LIVING ROOM, SOME STUFF IN BOXES UNDER MY WORK BENCH IN THE GARAGE, BINDERS FULL OF HIS STUFF ON SHELF OVER BENCH, ON BENCH, BOOKS IN BOXES IN SHED, GARAGE, ETC. I NEED MY OWN MUSEUM. THATS WHY IT TAKES SO LONG TO LOOK UP OR FIND SOMETHING CAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH PLACE ITS IN . NEED TO WIN THE LOTTERY TO GET A BIGGER PLACE. WOULD HELP IF I BOUGHT A LOTTERY TICKET, HUH? DON'T BELIEVE IN THAT THO. BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE BOUGHT A LOTTERY TICKET AND WON FOR ME I WOULD TAKE THAT. ANY TAKERS OUT THERE?

Page 7 of this issue of Stan Smith's newsletter has some backstory on the family's initial opposition to the Audie Murphy GIJoe doll:

http://www.audiemurphy.com/fanclub/ALMNFC_Vol5no2.pdf

Thought I would put the inside of it on here.

It's really a pretty good likeness of him, too