Ruel Smith

> Audie Murphy, little 5'5" tall 110 pound guy from Texas who played cowboy
> parts?
>
> Most Decorated serviceman of WWII! and ear ned: Medal of Honor,
> Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star Medals, Legion of Merit, 2
> Bronze Star Medals with "V",?3 Purple Hearts, U.S. Army Outstanding
> Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems,
> 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) World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation
> Medal with Germany Clasp, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantry
> Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar,
> French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre, French Legion of
> Honor, Grade of Chevalier, French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star, French
> Croix de Guerre with Palm, Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de
> Guerre 1940 Palm.

Wasn't he actually the most decorated of all time? 28 medals!

Anyway, I believe he became a movie star _after_ he got fame from the war.
He also said something to the effect that actors that played tough guys made
him sick because they weren't anything like the characters they played and
weren't tough at all. He also suffered nighmares and actually broke down and
cried during the filming of "To Hell and Back" about him and the men he
fought and served with.

http://www.audiemurphy.com/biograph.htm

We need more Americans like him!