Sergeant Audie Murphy Club

YOU LEAD FROM THE FRONT!

The USARJ Sergeant Audie Murphy Club is a nonprofit private organization committed to contributing to the community. The Sergeant Audie Murphy Club is operated solely by its members and is not affiliated with the Army. The club raises money for activities either by donation or through fund raising activities.

The USARJ Sergeant Audie Murphy Club is comprised of the top two percent of the noncommissioned officers in the U.S. Army. They are selected to the club based on demonstrated leadership, professionalism and overall general military knowledge. These NCOs demonstrate excellence on a daily basis. Each sergeant is responsible for the training and welfare of the Soldiers in their care. These distinguished NCOs directly influence each person who works under them. Each member constantly displays a positive attitude at work and is an upstanding citizen in the community. It is a prestigious honor to be a member of this elite club.

Biography of Sergeant Audie Murphy

Audie Leon Murphy was a legend in his own time. He was a war hero, movie actor, writer of country and western songs, and poet. His biography reads more like fiction than fact. He lived only 46 years, but he made a lasting imprint on American history.

Murphy was born on a sharecropper’s farm in Texas on June 20, 1924. As a boy, he chopped cotton for $1 a day and was noted for his feats of derring-do and his accuracy with a gun. He had only five years of schooling and was orphaned at age 16.

After being refused enlistment during World War II in both the Marines and paratroopers for being too small at 5 feet 5 inches tall and underweight at 110 pounds, he enlisted in the U.S. Army a few days after his 18th birthday. After basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas, and advance training at Fort George G. Meade, Md., Murphy was sent overseas. He was assigned to the famous 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division and fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. He earned a battlefield commission for his courage and leadership ability as well as citations and decorations including every medal for valor that America awarded.

He was also awarded one Belgian and three French medals. Lieutenant Audie Murphy is the most decorated Soldier in American history. Discharged from the U.S. Army Sept. 21, 1945, Murphy went to Hollywood at the invitation of movie star James Cagney. He remained in California for the rest of his life and was closely associated with the movie industry, both as an actor and producer. He acted in 44 films and starred in 39. Most of his movies were westerns. His best known film was, “To Hell and Back,” adapted from the best-selling book by the same name based on his experiences. In 1955, Murphy was voted the Most Popular Western Actor in America by the Motion Picture Exhibitors. Murphy also wrote lyrics to 16 country and small western songs.

The most popular was “Shutters and Boards,” written by Scott Turner in 1962. Over 30 popular singers, including Jerry Wallace, Dean Martin and Porter Waggoner, recorded the song. He was an accomplished poet, unfortunately, only a few of his poems have survived. In 1950, Murphy joined the 36th Infantry Division (“T-Patchers”) of the Texas National Guard and served with it until 1966. Murphy was killed in a plane crash on a mountaintop near Roanoke, Vir., May 28, 1971. Fittingly, his body was recovered two days later on Memorial Day. Murphy could very well be the last American war hero. He is considered the greatest combat Soldier in the more than the 230 year history of the United States.

History

The original club was started at Fort Hood, Texas, early in 1986. There were several key people at Fort Hood—officers, enlisted, civil service, and a Killeen, Texas, civilian—who were instrumental in getting this club up and running.

Leading the effort was Lt. Gen. Crosbie Saint, then III Corps commander; his Command Sergeant Major, George L. Horvath; III Corps awards clerk, Jean Crisp; and Don Moore, a Killeen artist who assisted with designing the logo and club awards.

In 1991, the III Corps commander, Lt. Gen. Pete Taylor, and Command Sgt. Maj. Richard B. Cayton, expanded the Fort Hood installation club to include all of III Corps which encompassed Fort Riley, Kan.; Fort Sill, Okla.; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Polk, La.; and Fort Carson, Colo.

In 1993, Command Sgt. Maj. Cayton was voted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club by its membership and then became the Forces Command Sergeant Major. Soon thereafter, the club became Force-Command (FORSCOM)-wide, including the Army Reserve and National Guard.

In 1994, at a Sergeant Major of the Army conference, the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club spread Army-wide to all commands with installations retaining the selection process for their own noncommissioned officers. In 1988, it was estimated that the worldwide club membership was over 3,000 Soldiers and steadily increasing. Today, thousands have been added to its membership roles.

The crest

The crest was designed by one of the original organizers of the club, Don Moore, an illustrator of Killeen, Texas. The crest depicts the symbols of the majestic American bald eagle superimposed over the olive branch-wreath, saber, and lightning bolt. In front of the eagle is U.S. Army staff sergeant stripes. The eagle firmly clutches a powder-blue banner in both claws, the color of the infantry with the words “Loyalty, Caring, Discipline and Professionalism.”

Miscellaneous

• SAMC Constitution
• SAMC Nomination
• SAMC Nomination Checklist
• USARJ Regulation 600-25

Contacts

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