One American vs. 250 Germans

The most decorated U.S. soldier in WWII was a 20-year-old kid from Northeast Texas named Audie Murphy. This unpretentious warrior stood 5 feet, 4-1/2 inches tall, weighed 112 pounds and was the recipient of every combat award for heroism the Army had to offer! Assigned to an infantry unit destined for combat in North Africa and Europe, he excelled on the battlefield. In 2-1/2 years, he quickly advanced in rank from Private to First Lieutenant, earning a highly coveted “Battlefield Commission.” Along the way, his heroics garnered the Distinguished Service Cross (the second highest U.S. decoration), two Silver Stars (for gallantry In action), the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts (for being wounded in action on three separate occasions) and the Combat Infantryman Badge. For his actions on Jan. 26, 1945, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration. He came home a hero and appeared on the cover of Life magazine. He died in an airplane crash on May 28, 1971, at the age of 45 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

To learn more about this remarkable hero, click here.

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Steve Corbo

A founding member and corporate secretary of the Italian American Veterans Museum, Steve Corbo is the museum’s curator and a military consultant for Fra Noi. He has served for 25 years as president of S.A. Corbo & Associates Inc., providing professional liability insurance to health care providers. The son and nephew of World War II veterans and a passionate military historian for over 50 years, he has written and published articles on a variety of topics, including military history, and serves as the military consultant for Fra Noi, the Chicago-area Italian-American magazine.

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