To Hell and Back

Sure wish every adult could read at least some of this book. The movie is tremendous (wish it had a much bigger budget), but there is so much more in the book. I am aware that some people will not want to read a few of the graphic sections, where we see through Audie Murphy's eyes what high explosives and machine guns can do to the human body. Still, Audie Murphy takes a humble, humane approach to his service to America. Not truly looking to hurt anyone, but understands what war is, and wants to end it as soon as possible. His primary devotion is to those immediately around him, whom he protects to the absolute best of his ability, even if that means facing the enemy alone. Maturity beyond his teenage years, but I suppose that comes with being orphaned and having to care for younger siblings. Most importantly, in the heat of battle, Audie Murphy understands what "calm fury" means, and he practices it even when it would be much easier to take a different approach. It truly is unbelievable that he survived. A measure of the man is that this book focuses almost exclusively on relationships, strategies, team objectives, etc., only mentioning his personal promotions when necessary, and never mentioning the numerous honors he received. I'm very grateful this book was written and that I had the opportunity to read it. Update: I went back through the book and tried to estimate the number of US soldiers who were killed within a few yards of Audie Murphy, and it is somewhere around 400. If we include those who were grievously wounded near him, it would be over 1,000. Of his original platoon that started in North Africa, he was the only one standing at the end of the war. Of the seven officers involved in the Colmar Pocket battle where Audie earned the Medal of Honor, he was the only officer who survived. I also tried to estimate the number of Germans he killed in direct combat, and that is somewhere around 90, with a lot of them being killed in one-on-one, cat-and-mouse duels. He even volunteered to go after snipers. He went forward, when the rest of his unit was holed up or moving toward the rear. He grabbed machine guns from crews that were hiding, pulled them into the open, and took the fight to the enemy. Many times, bullets were hitting so closely that they knocked dust into his eyes. If you count the air strikes he called in around his positions, he accounts for a total of about 250 enemy deaths, extremely conservatively speaking. To say it's a miracle he lived through 3 years of this type of fighting is an enormous understatement. Even among miracles, it's miraculous. Read the book!

This book is not what I expected but I was pleasantly surprised.To Hell and Back reads like a novel with great characters, lots of action, a sympathetic main character, moments of humor, and moments of sadness, what makes that astonishing is that it is a true story and more than that it is a memoir.The reader is taken on a riveting firsthand account of some of the most fierce fighting of WWII with a humble normal guy who turns out to be an incredible soldier and war hero.The story is possibly as close to the thoughts and feelings of combat that anyone who has never been in combat can experience.To Hell and Back should be required reading for every American.

This is not a typical autobiography. There is virtually no focus on Audie's early childhood or post-war life, this is purely a view of Murphy's WWII experiences. I describe it as "honest" because the book is written pretty much as if the reader were sitting in a room listening to someone recount the events they experienced in the Army. There is little pretense; in fact, the book ends shortly after V-E day with an introspective resolution from Audie Murphy. Not once in the entire book were the decorations and awards mentioned; however, he does cover the basic field based promotions he earned.The book is written simply and reads just as easily. Having said that, Military veterans, especially those with combat experience will relate to every page, every feeling and every mental image the accounts conjure. Even the callous dark humor that war brings out will be recognized as men under duress, deal with the brutalities of war the foot soldier faces.Highly recommend.

This is the true experiences of Audie Murphy at war. Yes, the shy western star of the late 40's, 50's and 60's. As a Vietnam veteran, I can appreciate what he experienced. My father was a WWII veteran (South Pacific, USMC) so I knew that in this war, you were in for the DURATION. No one knew how long that would be. Maybe into the 1950's or until there just weren't anymore men left alive to fight. It may be hard to understand that concept. He truly went through hell. It's a miracle that he lived through it. Lieutenant Murphy does not go beyond the war and the presentation of the Congressional Medal of Honor, nor does he mention receiving any of the medals he was bestowed upon for bravery. I regret that he didn't tell of the hell he experienced long after the war. But for this book, I had a hard time putting it down.

Incredible read.. If you've seen the movie - this is nothing like it. Hard and gritty talk. Tells of the deprivations, danger, fear and black humor of the combat infantryman. incredible insight to the man. Wish they'd remake the movie in the style of "Saving Private Ryan" - not the sanitized version made in the 1950's. Tremendous story of one our country's greatest hero's.

America has seldom birthed men as great as Audie Murphy, and there are few better war memoirs than that of America's most decorated soldier. Following him from his initial deployment to the European theater, to the end of the war, it follows Murphy through some haunting and harrowing moments... the details about the loss of his comrades, and how they continually haunted him, goes a long way toward humanizing the man behind the myth, and the book as a whole is just haunting. This is one of those rare books where parts of it will stick to your very soul.This is a must read, especially for those who want to know what it's like to walk in a soldier's boots, to bear a soldier's scars, and to be haunted by an old soldier's nightmares.

Audie came from an extremely poor background to become a world famous personalty,from the sharecropper world to the world of celebrity. Joined the army as a private. By the time he was 19, had gained a commission in the field, won evey medal for valour that the US, that would obviously include the medal of honour, the US equivalent of the Victoria cross. Also the Legion of merit medal normally awarded to full colonels and above. None of this is mentioned in the book* (the award of the field commision is). he then went on to become one of Hollywoods best know movie stars, mostly in westerns, although he did make a biopic, entitled the same as the book. All of this came at a price though. This book tells of that very high price.*He does not mention the the medal awards in the book.

Read this as a child in the 70s and several times since. Still holds up. Has dated well. Although ghostwritten, you still get a sense of Murphy. Vivid scenes and believable emotional reactions by the characters involved. Some of the dialogue is a tad corny, but you have to take into account when it was written. Watered down on purpose, removing the cuss words that would have alienated post-war America. Probably the best first-narrative of WW2, if not warfare in general. The qualifier is there because I have not read every account ever penned.

The word hero is thrown about to much nowadays..but when it comes to Audie Murphy..not enough words to explain about the bloke..just a shame that he is American 10/10

An excellent book. Although at times the writing diverges from Murphys signature style to make the ghost writing unignorable, this is countered by the dialog which shines through as authentic. Never self-deprecating, but humble and lacking in the boast and vain glory one might expect from such a decorated serviceman.

Amazing story! A great read! And he survived the war!