Audie Murphy, a hero among the Americans and feared among the Germans. He has accomplished what many cannot even comprehend. Audie Murphy proves he is a true hero for showing traits of selflessness and perseverance for his courageous actions at the last stand at Holtzwihr.
Many characteristics that make a hero but one that all heroes have is courage. If you google what courage means it will say “the ability to do something that frightens one.” Ask Audie Murphy he will respond it is single handedly holding of hundreds of Nazi soldiers and a handful of tanks. That is exactly what he did on the cold January day in 1945. German troops were making a push for the key city of Holtzwihr, 102 of Murphy's 120 men are dead he orders the remaining
18 to fall back and retreat. Meanwhile Murphy hops into a burning tank destroyer and fires upon the Germans, defending the german advice.
All heroes have to be selfless, all heroes risk something for the benefit of others even if that would be their life. Audie Murphy did it think twice about hopping into the burning tank destroyer and ordering his men to back. During this act of courage and selflessness Audie Murphy was shot in the leg but he continued throughout the pain and the smoke to save his men, his country, and the concept of democracy.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This quote sums up what perseverance means Audie Murphy is the World War Two definition of perseverance. At the beginning of the war Audie Murphy faced rejection from the marines and paratroopers, the army being the only way Murphy could see combat signed up. Murphy wanted to go and fight so badly he forged his age so he could get into the army. Standing at 5’5” and weighing in at 112 pounds 18 year old Audie Murphy went to war. Soon he would find himself face to face with 250 Nazi soldiers and 10 tanks. He had the option to retreat to safety with his unit but he had decided to stick it out and face the Germans.
Audie Murphy is remembered for his perseverance, selflessness, and courage. He has done what many people have not even dreamed of. 112 pound Audie Murphy help of 250 plus men single handedly and became the most decorated person WWI history.