Audie Murphy: Most Decorated Soldier of World War II

A single undersized teenager stands atop a burning tank destroyer, holding off an entire company of enemy soldiers. This deep dive looks past the medals and movie posters to reconstruct the life of Audie Murphy, the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II.

From Texas sharecropping and childhood marksmanship born of necessity to his rise from division runner to battlefield-commissioned officer, we trace his combat career, his surreal Hollywood second act, and his pioneering advocacy for veterans' mental health.

• How feeding 12 siblings with a hunting rifle forged his composure under fire
• The Colmar Pocket stand that earned him the Medal of Honor
• Playing himself in the blockbuster To Hell and Back
• His battle with what was then called battle fatigue and Placidyl dependence
• Why he requested a plain headstone at Arlington instead of gold leaf