Who was the bravest US soldier during WW2?
It would be hard to put anyone ahead of that short, skinny Texas kid with only a fifth-grade education who was initially rejected by the Army, Navy and Marine Corps for being under weight and underage.
He finally got his sister to falsify an affidavit that advanced his age by a year in 1942. He was inducted and went to training that year and reached the 3rd Infantry Division in Morocco in February 1943.
In the next 24 months he earned EVERY SINGLE medal for courage the US Army could possibly award (including three Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars, two Silver Stars, the Distinguished Service Cross, Medal of Honor).
All awarded before he turned 20 years old.
He was also awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and achieved expert with the bayonet.
There were brave American servicemen and women throughout that conflict in every service. And although he would never place himself there, in front of them all was Audie Murphy.
A Dogface Soldier par excellence.
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