Rating: 
Summary: What the movie didn't tell you
Review: I grew up with this movie, but what the movie didn't tell you is why teenage Audie Murphy won the Congressional Medal of Honor. At the time of his battle, Murphy had been walking around for 24 hours, carrying artillery shrapnel wounds. He refused medical aid because he was the only officer remaining in a company of men which had less than 15 men remaining. He called artillery fire on top of his position to drive off a German assault which surely would have wiped out what remained of his men. He mounted a burning tank destroyer to drive off the German infantry still advancing towards his men. Murphy's book reminds us that wars are fought by ordinary people often closer to being children, as opposed to battle hardened warriors. It reminds us that courage is not limited to those over 20, and that the real Hell and the highest price of war is paid by the young.
Rating:
Summary: Thrilling and candid
Review: I have always heard veterans say "I would give a million dollars for the experience, but I wouldn't give a cent to relive it" Now I know why. Told in a very straight forward manner with exceptional detail about battel sites and events. Altogether a well written and well organized book detailing WWII combat experience in the infantry.
Rating:
Summary: I'm embarassed
Review: I have to say that after I saw this movie, I was a little embarassed that I had never heard of Audie Murphy before, especially since I'm 37 years old. This guy epitomizes the term "war hero" and his story needs to be retold. I'd love to see this remade so that more generations of people would know about him. The current version was great, especially because Audie plays himself. A must watch, especially for anyone who doesn't know anything about him.
Rating:
Summary: I'm embarassed
Review: I have to say that after I saw this movie, I was a little embarassed that I had never heard of Audie Murphy before, especially since I'm 37 years old. This guy epitomizes the term "war hero" and his story needs to be retold. I'd love to see this remade so that more generations of people would know about him. The current version was great, especially because Audie plays himself. A must watch, especially for anyone who doesn't know anything about him.
Rating:
Summary: I'm embarassed
Review: I have to say that after I saw this movie, I was a little embarassed that I had never heard of Audie Murphy before, especially since I'm 37 years old. This guy epitomizes the term "war hero" and his story needs to be retold. I'd love to see this remade so that more generations of people would know about him. The current version was great, especially because Audie plays himself. A must watch, especially for anyone who doesn't know anything about him.
Rating:
Summary: horrific truth of combat.
Review: i never served in the military. after reading mr murphy's portrayal i am filled with the belief that i am luckier than mr. murphy ever was in combat. i also witnessed an A&E biography of audie murphy. I strongly suggest reading his book before viewing this program. i was left feeling morose. i aquired a deep and obeisant respect, not only for mr. murphy but, for all combat veterans.
Rating:
Summary: Audie Murphy - American
Review: Most of us know Audie Murphy's story... enlisted underage, became the most decorated soldier in WWII, became an actor still influenced by his military experiences, and died in a tragic plane crash. But Murphy was typical of the men who have fought and died for the salvation of the American way. He wasn't the only hero, nor the "greatest" hero. I'm sure he'd agree with that if he were here with us today. ALL those who've given their lives, their limbs, their hearts, their efforts have all been heros. Just as those who protect us now are heros. The movie was enjoyable, and undoubtedly modified from the absolute truth in many places. But the underlying message is strong and clear.
Rating:
Summary: Audie Murphy - American
Review: Most of us know Audie Murphy's story... enlisted underage, became the most decorated soldier in WWII, became an actor still influenced by his military experiences, and died in a tragic plane crash. But Murphy was typical of the men who have fought and died for the salvation of the American way. He wasn't the only hero, nor the "greatest" hero. I'm sure he'd agree with that if he were here with us today. ALL those who've given their lives, their limbs, their hearts, their efforts have all been heros. Just as those who protect us now are heros. The movie was enjoyable, and undoubtedly modified from the absolute truth in many places. But the underlying message is strong and clear.
Rating: 
Summary: More compelling than the Bible
Review: Murphy doesn't glorify war or his own accomplishments ( he doesn't even mention his awards) He paints a stark landscape and a brutal existence but still manages to draw the reader in with vivid descriptions of the only thing that matters to him at the time, his companions. Sometimes it's hilarious how they kid and pick on each other but then we're thrown back to reality when one of them loses his composure or is killed. The soldiers don't care about the next hill , they want to stay alive and keep their buddies alive. You feel a piece of Murphy die with each of his friends that are wounded or killed. The best is left for the last lines where he becomes a philosopher; this should be read every Rememberance day. " When I was a child, I was told that men were branded by war. Has the brand been put on me? Have the years of blood and ruin stripped me of all decency? Of all belief? Not of all belief. I believe in the force of a hand grenade, the power of artillery, the accurancy of a Garand. I believe in hitting before you get hit, and that dead men do not look noble. But I also believe in men like Brandon and Novak and Swope and Kerrigan; and all the men who stood up against the enemy, taking their beatings without whimper and their triumphs without boasting. The men who went and would go again to hell and back to preserve what our country thinks right and decent. My country. America! That is it. We have been so intent on death that we have forgotten life. And now suddenly life faces us. I swear to myself that I will measure up to it. I may be branded by war, but I will not be defeated by it. Gradually it becomes clear. I will go back. I will find the kind of girl of whom I once dreamed. I will learn to look at life through uncynical eyes, to have faith, to know love. I will learn to work in peace as in war. And finally - finally, like countless others, I will learn to live again. He doesn't know, even years after the war is over, if he has learned to live again. A truly compelling story that speaks to anyone about what it means to persever in the face of hardship. What it doesn't tell you in the story is that he joined the army at 17 to support his 6 younger siblings after his father left and his mother died. It doesn't tell you that he won ever major medal the the USA gives it's solders , some of them more than once. It doesn't tell you how he was haunted by post traumatic stress syndrom for the rest of his life but still managed to have a successful song writing and acting career including starring as himself in the movie about his war experiences "To Hell and Back" that was the highest grossing movie until "Jaws" came out in 1975. OK , I'm obviously biased abut this story, but the only thing I can find wrong with this story is that it was too short. I still find myself rereading sections that I found particularily compelling.
Rating:
Summary: More compelling than the Bible
Review: Murphy doesn't glorify war or his own accomplishments ( he doesn't even mention his awards) He paints a stark landscape and a brutal existence but still manages to draw the reader in with vivid descriptions of the only thing that matters to him at the time, his companions. Sometimes it's hilarious how they kid and pick on each other but then we're thrown back to reality when one of them loses his composure or is killed. The soldiers don't care about the next hill , they want to stay alive and keep their buddies alive. You feel a piece of Murphy die with each of his friends that are wounded or killed. The best is left for the last lines where he becomes a philosopher; this should be read every Rememberance day. " When I was a child, I was told that men were branded by war. Has the brand been put on me? Have the years of blood and ruin stripped me of all decency? Of all belief? Not of all belief. I believe in the force of a hand grenade, the power of artillery, the accurancy of a Garand. I believe in hitting before you get hit, and that dead men do not look noble. But I also believe in men like Brandon and Novak and Swope and Kerrigan; and all the men who stood up against the enemy, taking their beatings without whimper and their triumphs without boasting. The men who went and would go again to hell and back to preserve what our country thinks right and decent. My country. America! That is it. We have been so intent on death that we have forgotten life. And now suddenly life faces us. I swear to myself that I will measure up to it. I may be branded by war, but I will not be defeated by it. Gradually it becomes clear. I will go back. I will find the kind of girl of whom I once dreamed. I will learn to look at life through uncynical eyes, to have faith, to know love. I will learn to work in peace as in war. And finally - finally, like countless others, I will learn to live again. He doesn't know, even years after the war is over, if he has learned to live again. A truly compelling story that speaks to anyone about what it means to persever in the face of hardship. What it doesn't tell you in the story is that he joined the army at 17 to support his 6 younger siblings after his father left and his mother died. It doesn't tell you that he won ever major medal the the USA gives it's solders , some of them more than once. It doesn't tell you how he was haunted by post traumatic stress syndrom for the rest of his life but still managed to have a successful song writing and acting career including starring as himself in the movie about his war experiences "To Hell and Back" that was the highest grossing movie until "Jaws" came out in 1975. OK , I'm obviously biased abut this story, but the only thing I can find wrong with this story is that it was too short. I still find myself rereading sections that I found particularily compelling.
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