Audie Murphy

There is also an Audie Murphy Middle School in Fort Hood, Texas, named in his honor.
. In the year 2000, Audie Murphy was further honored with his portrait on the 33 cent United States postage stamp. A keen fitness & weight lifting enthusiast, Rhames is also well known for his strong spiritual beliefs and benevolent attitude towards other people. Bush, also made the same proclamation declaring June 20 to officially be "Audie Murphy Day" in the state of Texas. The talented actor then contributed attention grabbing performances in Bringing Out the Dead (1999), reprised his Luther Stickell role for Mission: Impossible II (2000), contributed his deep bass voice for the character of Cobra Bubbles in Lilo & Stitch (2002), and played a burly cop fighting cannibal zombie hordes in Dawn of the Dead (2004). In 1996 the Texas Legislature officially declared his birthdate, June 20, as "Audie Murphy Day." In 1999, Governor George W. Lemmon, who tried unsuccessfully to give the award back to Rhames said it was "...one of the sweetest moments I've ever known in my life." The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced later that they would have a duplicate award prepared for Rhames.

He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. At the ceremony Rhames gave his award to Jack Lemmon saying "I feel that being an artist is about giving, and I'd like to give this to you." Lemmon was clearly touched by the gesture as was the celebrity audience who gave Lemmon a standing ovation. Audie Murphy died in 1971 when the private plane he was flying in crashed in heavy fog near Roanoke, Virginia. Rhames won a Golden Globe in 1998 for best actor in a TV miniseries for his performance in HBO's "Don King: Only in America". However, in spite of his fame and fortune, the trauma of war affected him a great deal and he suffered considerably with what today is known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and had a difficult life, suffering from a number of addictions, depression, and insomnia. With solid performances in both these highly popular productions, his face was now well known to movie goers, and the work offers began rolling in more frequently. In addition to acting in motion pictures, Murphy also became successful as a country music songwriter. Not long after, Rhames was cast alongside Tom Cruise as the ace computer hacker, Luther Stickell in Brian de Palma's Mission: Impossible (1996).

The 1955 film, To Hell and Back, based on his book, held the record as Universal's highest-grossing motion picture until 1975, when it was surpassed by Steven Spielberg's Jaws. He found work as a supporting actor, and came to the attention of the general public in Pulp Fiction as Marsellus Wallace (1994). He was signed by Universal Studios, where he starred in more than 27 films. Ving continued his rise to fame through his work in soap operas. After the war, his photo appeared on the cover of Life magazine and his 1949 autobiography To Hell and Back became a national bestseller. He first appeared on Broadway in the play "The Winter Boys" in 1984. He was shot in the leg, but continued to single-handedly fight off the Germans, killing or wounding about 50 of them. He studied at the Julliard School of Drama, and began his career in New York theater.

Even though it was in danger of exploding, he used its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy, despite being exposed to German fire from three sides. A good student, Ving entered the New York High School of Performing Arts, where he discovered his love of acting. At one point, he climbed atop a burning tank destroyer. He was born in New York City, New York, and grew up in Harlem, Manhattan. He ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in the woods, but stayed forward at his command post to direct artillery fire by telephone. Irving "Ving" Rhames (born 1959) is an American actor. In one notable incident during the battle of the Colmar Pocket, he commanded Company B as it was attacked by six tanks.

Rejected by the Marines because he was only 5 feet, 5 inches, (165 cm) tall, Audie Murphy fought in World War II with such courage that he received every decoration for valor that the United States had to offer, plus another five decorations were presented to him by Belgium and France. Desperately needing money, he joined the United States Army in order to earn enough to help support his family. He grew up in the rural area of Farmersville and later Greenville, Texas. His father abandoned the family, and his mother died when he was 17, leaving him and five younger siblings still at home.

From an original family of 12 children, Audie Murphy was born into abject poverty. He later became an actor and songwriter. Audie Leon Murphy (June 20, 1924 – May 28, 1971) was the United States' most decorated combat soldier of World War II. Belgian Croix de guerre with Palm.

French Liberation Medal. French Croix de guerre with Silver Star. French Croix de guerre with Palm. French Legion of Honor.

French Fourragère in Colors of the Croix de guerre. Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar. Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar. Combat Infantryman Badge.

Armed Forces Reserve Medal. Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp. World War II Victory Medal. American Campaign Medal.

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France). Distinguished Unit Emblem with First Oak Leaf Cluster. Good Conduct Medal. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal.

U.S. Purple Heart with Second Oak Leaf Cluster. Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device and First Oak Leaf Cluster. Legion of Merit.

Silver Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster. Distinguished Service Cross. Medal of Honor.