Audie Murphy: Great American Hero

• Documentary

Episode overview

Audie Murphy was one of America’s most celebrated World War II heroes, receiving 33 military decorations. Yet despite winning immense national acclaim, he never escaped the pain and trauma of the battle that made him an icon. From his difficult childhood in Texas to his tragic death at 46, Audie Murphy: Great American Hero offers a rare glimpse into Murphy’s valorous and tumultuous life. Follow the young soldier into action in Italy, France and Germany, and hear from the men who fought alongside him. Accompany Murphy as he parlays his heroic status into a career as an actor and writer while enduring an ongoing struggle with battle fatigue and drug abuse. Through clips, newsreel footage, and the memories of those who knew him, Audie Murphy: Great American Hero recounts the laudatory and tragic tale of a truly remarkable man.

60 minutes