This Day in History-Jan 26, 1945

American Lt. Audie Murphy, is wounded in France. Born the son of Texas sharecroppers on June 20, 1924, Murphy served three years of active duty, beginning as a private, rising to the rank of staff sergeant, and finally winning a battlefield commission to 2nd Lieutenant.

He was wounded three times, fought in nine major campaigns across Europe, and was credited with killing 241 Germans. He was awarded 37 medals and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster), the Legion of Merit, and the Croix de Guerre (with palm).

The battle that Murphy received the Medal of Honor for, and which ended his active duty, occurred during the last stages of the Allied victory over the Germans in France. Murphy acted as cover for Infantrymen during a last desperate German tank attack. Climbing atop an abandoned U.S. tank destroyer, he took control of its .50-caliber machine gun and killed 50 Germans, stopping the advance but suffering a leg wound in the process.

Upon returning to the States, Murphy was invited to Hollywood by Jimmy Cagney, who saw the war hero’s picture on the cover of Life magazine. By 1950, Murphy won an acting contract with Universal Pictures.

In his most famous role, he played himself in the monumentally successful To Hell and Back. Perhaps as interesting as his film career was his public admission that he suffered severe depression from post traumatic stress syndrome, also called battle fatigue, and became addicted to sleeping pills as a result. This had long been a taboo subject for veterans. Murphy died in a plane crash while on a business trip in 1971. He was 46.


A 75-year-old woman sat at the bar in Rusty Anchor’s Tavern, waiting for her husband.

A 75-year-old woman sat at the bar in Rusty Anchor’s Tavern, waiting for her husband.

As she sipped her wine, a strikingly handsome man walked in, radiating confidence. He took a seat a few stools…

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Golden Years, Golden Laughs:

Golden Years, Golden Laughs:

10 Cheerful Tales About Aging Wisely” Who says getting older has to be serious business? These delightful stories prove that…

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The Irish Elk, also called the Giant Deer, was the biggest deer species to ever live.

The Irish Elk, also called the Giant Deer, was the biggest deer species to ever live.

It roamed across Europe, Asia, and parts of North America during the Pleistocene epoch. Standing about 6.6 feet (2 meters)…

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Fossilized bones of what is believed to be the largest creature ever to walk the Earth were discovered in the deserts of Argentina by a local farmer.

Fossilized bones of what is believed to be the largest creature ever to walk the Earth were discovered in the deserts of Argentina by a local farmer.

Based on the size of the dinosaur’s femur bones, the animal is estimated to have been about 40 meters long…

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Why some women in the part of the world stand to pee.

Why some women in the part of the world stand to pee.

In the past, the tale of Lanna women (Lanna is known as northern Thailand) standing to pee, much like men,…

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Today, we honor the extraordinary bravery of Doris Miller, a U.S. Navy Mess Attendant who became one of the most recognizable American heroes of World War II.

Today, we honor the extraordinary bravery of Doris Miller, a U.S. Navy Mess Attendant who became one of the most recognizable American heroes of World War II.

On the morning of December 7, 1941, as the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Miller was serving aboard the USS West…

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Nikola Tesla aimed to create a flying machine powered by ether, a concept he believed could enable space travel without traditional propulsion.

Nikola Tesla aimed to create a flying machine powered by ether, a concept he believed could enable space travel without traditional propulsion.

Sketches of interplanetary spacecraft found in the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade were never realized due to World War II….

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A great story about a little bit of ‘humanity’ during a terrible war.

A great story about a little bit of ‘humanity’ during a terrible war.

In April 1945, 2nd Lt. Peter During was a South African fighter pilot (N.7 Squadron) running missions over Italy when…

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Imagine sweeping your metal detector across a quiet patch of forest or a lonely field, and suddenly hearing that telltale beep—a signal from the earth whispering of forgotten history.

Imagine sweeping your metal detector across a quiet patch of forest or a lonely field, and suddenly hearing that telltale beep—a signal from the earth whispering of forgotten history.

As you dig through the soil, your hands uncover a rusted dog tag, a dented helmet, or a weathered insignia…

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Army Deletes Medgar Evers, Black Soldiers Section Name From Arlington National Cemetery Website’

Army Deletes Medgar Evers, Black Soldiers Section Name From Arlington National Cemetery Website’

The Army has deleted a segment honoring Black soldiers from the Arlington National Cemetery website, including Medgar Evers among others….

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