The Price of Valor

The Life of Audie Murphy, America's Most Decorated Hero of World War II

By: David Smith

Narrated by: Tom Perkins

When he was 17 years old, Audie Murphy falsified his birth records so that he could enlist in the army and help defeat the Nazis. When he was 19, he single-handedly turned back the German army at the Battle of Colmar Pocket by climbing on top of a tank with a machine gun, a moment immortalized in the classic film To Hell and Back, starring Audie himself.

In the first biography covering his entire life - including his severe PTSD and his tragic death at age 45 - the unusual story of Audie Murphy, the most decorated hero of World War II, is brought to life for a new generation.

©2015 David A. Smith (P)2015 Tantor

OUTSTANDING

This book gives insight to the life struggles of one of America's greatest hero's. the most decorated American paid a price in blood, and physical health as well as long term mental struggle.

From a decorated Vietnam combat veteran....

I’ve wanted for many years to read something honest and concise about Audie Murphy. My experiences in Vietnam left me with no interest in dramatisations of war. I’ve avoided virtually all of them for 50 years. An exception was Ken Burns’ series on Vietnam. It reached exceedingly deep into my soul where I ordinarily spend no time. I’ve made peace with “what’s under the bed”. I wept more than once during my focused listening to this book. The writing is excellent. The narration superb. But the man as extraordinary as he was, returned from war,, as my mother said of me, but not all of him. There are two books here: one a biography of Audience Murphy, the other, a clinical case study of the inescapable trauma of combat. Thank you so very much.

Fills in blanks

I had read some other bios of Murphy including To Hell and Back. This book gives a bit more insight into Murphy's postwar life and highlights how we, the citizens of the United States and in particular the government has unrealistic expectations and understanding of veterans or war and violence in general.

Deeper, we expect every organ in the body to be susceptible to pathology with the exception of the brain. This has to change.

interesting

interesting, never knew this about that crazy kid from texas. what a true American hero

Breath taking and Heart Breaking...

Over the centuries we have given names to the unseen wounds people who fight and survive bloody battles carry with them. Society has called it battle fatigue, shell shock, and today we call it PTSD. The best part of this book are the citations that tell in clear, short sentences, the actions Murphy took for each medal. Even if you are not into the mythology of the Hero, find this book and listen/read those citations.

In the nineteen forties these unseen wounds were not only denied but it was scorned. Even the people who lived with these hidden wounds were expected to never complain, never quit. Audie Leon Murphy did just that. But he paid for the stoicism in other ways.

This book tells what happened to the most decorated hero of WWII, after he put away all of the decorations. It is well worth the time spent reading it.

But for the rest of his life Audie Leon Murphy relived, not just his achievements, but the death and wounds of his friends and the people he killed.

He never complained. He never asked for sympathy. He never apologized for sleeping with the lights on.

Loved it!

Explained in great detail. Learned more about Murphy than I thought was possible. After thinking I knew the man from previous books, I feel I REALLY got to know him in this book. Life is fragile and an uphill climb for most people as it surely was was for Murphy but he always tried his best to do the best he could do and keep his chin up. This hero was after all, just like the rest of us, fragile and human.

Great little book, Great Big Man

If you could sum up The Price of Valor in three words, what would they be?

An honest appraisal.

Who was your favorite character and why?

That would have to be Audie.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book made me think about a different time when people were certainly different, notice I didnt necessarily say better, but very different.I was born in 1965 and even I feel that our country and people changed has much in that decade as in the 100 years before this time. Audie was definitely a man from the pre 1965 era, who never quite fit in after the war, and like so many warriors, was never comfortable with the fame his service earned for him. I often wonder what would happen in America if we were faced by an enemy such as Japan or Germany. I wonder how todays soldier would react to three qaurters of his or her unit being wiped out in a few minutes, or how the general public would react to the sacrifices required of it in such a conflict. And then I think the soldiers , sailors and airman would eventually adapt and overcome, and as for the public...well...still I wonder.

Any additional comments?

BEST NARRATOR EVER!!!!!!!....hour after hour of proper pronunciation and no fake drama or imitations...very encouraging!!!!!

Good Research

The author has gathered information from many sources and weaves a well balanced story of Audie's life.

Great biography of an American Hero

This is much better than the autobiography “to hell and back” by Murphy himself. This book covers everything necessary to give you a complete picture of this man’s life. It’s very good.

The Price of Valor

Really gives you a inside look in the public and private life of Audie L. Murphy Very good book