PRICE OF VALOR Sparknotes

THE PRICE OF VALOR: THE LIFE OF AUDIE MURPHY, AMERICA’S MOST DECORATED HERO OF WORLD WAR II is an autobiography written by David A. Smith about Audie Murphy. THE PRICE OF VALOR covers the entirety of Murphy’s life while focusing on his achievements and accomplishments. Starting before his birth, in 1925, the books follows the family life of Murphy, his early jobs, enrollment into the army, his post-war life, and lastly his death in 1971. Audie’s impoverished home life led to him getting a job at a young age and trying to provide support for his family. When he got older, Murphy, known as a sharp-shooter, entered into the military during WWII. In the military, Murphy experienced great success where he earned thirty-three medals, such as a Purple Heart and a Medal of Honor.

Through all of his courageous acts, Murphy struggled with PTSD.

Throughout the rest of his life, Murphy would be plagued by PTSD and show its effects in a time where there was no treatment and people were told to “get over it.” After the war, Murphy would enter into Hollywood and become an actor in several western and war movies. Due to his humble beginnings, Murphy did not enjoy his time in the limelight and tended to be backward and antisocial. In Hollywood, Murphy found that he disagreed with many people who silently supported communism, which is partly what he fought against. Murphy continued to work as an actor and care for his children until he died when thrown out of a plane after it crashed into mountains. Audie Murphy was an America’s sweetheart and appeared to embody all the ideals of what a soldier should. Murphy was humble, courageous, and all-American. In a time of little optimism, Audie Murphy brought hope and new life to American life and culture. Without meaning to be, Murphy turned out to be the most decorated soldier in World War II and one of America’s most celebrated

heroes.
THE PRICE OF VALOR starts in Hunt County, Texas during the Great Depression. Audie was born into a poor family that had to depend on cotton picking to make a living. As a young boy, Murphy worked long days in the fields so that his family could make enough money for food and rent. Many times, his father, who Murphy hated, disappeared from his family and left his wife and twelve children to work on their own. Following WWI, the Roaring ‘20s had little effect on small towns, like Murphy’s, in Texas. Many Texans still farmed cotton and employed workers who moved from farm to farm looking for work. That being said, Murphy grew up in poverty, especially after his mother died. To bring home enough money, Murphy stopped his education and found work in other places. At those places, Murphy grew up listening to stories of being a soldier in WWI, so when the second World War came about, Murphy, to escape poverty and bring home money for his family, falsified his birth records and enrolled in the military at the age of 17. During his time in the war, Murphy traveled in Europe and Africa. In Europe, Murphy fought in Italy and trained in Africa. Early in his training, Murphy worked in Morocco and northern Africa where he was subject to drills and perfecting the “Truscott Trot.” Murphy also worked in Sicily where he was in one of the first waves of attack. Murphy continued to fight with his battalion up the rest of Italy, into France and eventually into Germany. All his life, Murphy was surrounded by a hate for the Germans, so naturally, the Germans were not Audie’s favorite. Covering from 1925 to 1971 and even some of the present, this book thoroughly gives a detailed description of Murphy’s life and how different things affected him. The World War II era that the world was involved, affected Murphy’s whole life. The hatred and violence that Murphy also experienced in Europe during his years 4 years in the war never allowed him to be the same again.
During his years in the war, Audie along with two friends fought through their trial together. Murphy never really opened up, so when he made two very close friends, he never abandoned them and showed his loyalty through each of their demises. To begin, Audie Murphy, the protagonist, is who the book is all about. Murphy was a head-strong, independent person who had an instinct for battle. Some of Murphy’s major accomplishments include being an essential part of his battalion and single-handedly fighting off a number of German soldiers. Murphy also had an acting career where he produced and acted in many movies, including his memoir To Hell and Back. Since Murphy was a private person, he only had a few friends. One of his friends was Lattie Tipton. Lattie Tipton served with Murphy during WWII and was known as Audie’s closest friend. Tipton expressed that he and Murphy were like brothers and that they kept each other from falling into fear. Back in America, Tipton had an ex-wife and a daughter who he loved dearly. Murphy was ferociously loyal to Tipton and mourned him greatly when he was shot through the heart while in a foxhole right next to Murphy. Another close friend of Murphy was Joe Sieja, who was a Polish immigrant who joined the war after just 5 years in America. Both men had a hatred for the Germans and bonded over their time in the army. While Murphy was in an infirmary, Sieja died in the Anzio battle due to a German artillery shell. The deaths of both Lattie Tipton and Joe Sieja forever affected Murphy and made him realize that the war changed men and broke them down, so much so that many could not function.