Audie Murphy: Stand Where You Are

Quick answer: What did Audie Murphy do at Holtzwihr?

On January 26, 1945, near Holtzwihr, France, as German tanks and infantry advanced on a thin American line, Second Lieutenant Audie Murphy ordered his men back and climbed onto a burning M10 tank destroyer. He fired its .50-caliber machine gun and directed artillery by radio for over an hour, then led a counterattack.

January 26, 1945, Holtzwihr, France. Snow, mud, and fog. A German force with tanks and infantry advanced on a thin American line, and the Americans were falling back. One soldier refused. Second Lieutenant Audie Murphy ordered his men to pull back to the tree line and stayed behind with a radio and a burning M10 tank destroyer. He climbed onto the flaming vehicle, manned its .50-caliber machine gun, and opened fire. For over an hour he held off the advance by himself, directing artillery by radio. When he ran out of ammunition, he rejoined his men and led a counterattack. He was wounded, nearly frozen, and exhausted, and he didn't leave. Murphy became the most decorated U.S. soldier of the war, including the Medal of Honor, and, John notes, he was only 19. His citation credits his indomitable courage with stopping the enemy. He said little afterward. He didn't volunteer for glory, John writes. Someone had to hold the line.

Why it matters for leaders: Leadership doesn't always mean movement; sometimes it means staying put when every instinct says run.

Q: How was Murphy recognized?

A: He became the most decorated U.S. soldier of the war, including the Medal of Honor.

Q: How old was he?

A: John writes that he was 19.

Read the full essay on Substack → https://heroespath.substack.com/p/audie-murphy-stand-where-you-are

By John Fenzel, founder and CEO of Heroes' Path Foundation