Skip to main content

Audie Murphy Memorial

  • Additional Text 1:

    Holtzwihr fell to the Americans the following day and Lt. Murphy was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour and also made a Chevalier d'Honneur by France for his action.

  • Additional Text 2:

    The memorial is also meant to remind us of the sacrifices of those on the front lines, and the price of the freedom we enjoy today.

  • Image 1:
  • Image 2:
  • Image 3:

Audie Murphy said that the 'real' heroes were those, who were awarded the 'wooden crosses'. However, the people of Holtzwihr, just outside Colmar, erected a memorial to honour his role in the liberation of their village. It is located near the spot where Audie made a one-man stand atop a burning tank against a counter-attack by German heavy tanks and infrantry, on the 26th of January 1945. He prevailed and re-organised his company (Co. B, 1st Battalion, 15th Reg, 3rd Division), to chase the attackers back into Holtzwihr.