When Audie Murphy returned to the United States after being discharged from the war, he was sought out by TIME Magazine who interviewed him and placed him on the cover of one of the magazine issues. Actor James Cagney invited Audie to Hollywood in September 1945 when he saw the cover of TIME Magazine with Audie's picture on it. Audie was then given two very minor roles in the movies Beyond Glory and Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven. Audie's movie career wasn't looking too good. Audie Murphy looked for advice from his old friend who worked in the movie industry. Audie discussed with Cherry that even with Cagney's help and acting lessons, he wasn't getting anywhere in Hollywood. In a 1973 interview, Cherry said, "He was discouraged and somewhat despondent concerning his movie career." Variety Clubs was funding a film called Bad Boy to help promote the organization's work with troubled children. Cherry called Texas theater executive Paul Short, who was producing the film, and suggested they considered giving Murphy a significant role in the movie. Murphy looked good in the screen test, but the president of Allied Artists did not want to cast someone with so little acting experience as a major character. However, by this time, Cherry, Short, and the other Texas theater owners had decided that Audie Murphy was going to play the lead or they weren't financing the film. Their money talked and Murphy was cast as the lead. He turned in such a fine performance that the Hollywood powers that be finally recognized his talent. Because of the success of this film, Universal Studios gave Audie Murphy a 7-year contract for movies.
Audie Murphy went on to make many movies, but the most particular one was his autobiography To Hell and Back. The film earned almost ten million dollars during its initial release, and, at the time, became Universal's biggest hit movie in the 43-year history of the studio. It held the record as Universal's highest-grossing motion picture until 1975, when it was surpassed by Jaws.
Audie Murphy was on a business trip in his in private plane on May 28th, 1971 (ironically Memorial Day Weekend) when his plane flew in to a nearby cloud of fog and smoke. The pilot lost vision and control and crashed into a nearby mountain, Brush Mountain, near Catawba, Virginia. Audie Murphy and the rest of the crew aboard were killed.
On June 7, 1971, Audie Murphy was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetary.. His gravesite is the second most visited gravesite year round. President John F. Kennedy's grave is the most visited. At Arlington Cemetery, the tombstones of Medal of Honor winners are normally decorated in gold leaf, but Murphy had requested that his tombstone remained plain and inconspicuous. His engraved headstone reads as follows:
Audie L. Murphy, Texas. Major Infantry, World War II, June 20, 1924 to May 28, 1971, Medal of Honor, DSC - SS & OLC; LM - BSM & OLC; PH & two OLC. (DSC-Distinguished Service Cross; SS-Silver Star; LM-Legion of Merit; BSM-Bronze Star Medal; OLC-Oak Leaf Cluster; PH-Purple Heart).
Audie Murphy has and continues to inspire others to continue the tradition of bringing out the American spirit in our society.
Without people like him, our society would surely come to an end due to a lack of motivation.
Audie Murphy wasn't just a person, he was the embodiment of a force that is known as the American spirit.
And that spirit continues to inspire us today.