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Who was Audie Leon Murphy? Audie Leon Murphy was a legend in his own time. A war hero, movie actor, writer of country and western songs, and a poet. His biography reads more like fiction than fact. He lived only 46 years, but made a lasting imprint on american history. Audie was born on a sharecroppers farm in North Texas on June 20th, 1924. As a boy, he chopped cotton for one dollar a day and was noted for his feats of derring-do and his accuracy with a gun. He had only 5 years of schooling and was orphaned at age 16. After being refused enlistment during world war 2 in both the marines and paratroopers for being too small (5'5) and underweight (110 lbs), he enlisted in the US army a few days after his 18th birthday. After basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas and advance training at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland Audie was sent overseas. He was assigned to the famous 15th infantry regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division where he fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. He earned a battlefields commission for his courage and leadership ability, as well as citation and decorations including every medal for valor that America's gives. He was also awarded three French and one Belgian medal. LT Audie Murphy was the highest decorated soldier in American history. Discharged from the army on September 21, 1945, Audie went to Hollywood at the invitation of movie star James Cagney. He remained in California for the rest of his life and was closely associated with the movie industry both as an actor and a producer. He acted in 44 films, starring in 39 of them. His best known film was "To hell and Back," adopted from the bestselling book of his war experiences by the same name. Most of his movies were westerns. In 1955, Audie Murphy was voted the most popular Western Actor in America by the motion picture exhibitors. Audie wrote the lyrics to 16 country and western songs, the most popular of which was shutters and boards, written with Scott Turner in 1962. The song was recorded by over 30 pop singers, including Jerry Wallace, Dean Martin, and Porter Wagner. He was an accomplished poet; unfortunately, only a few of his poems have survived.