Audie Murphy's Carbine Number

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Well said Art.

There are a few people who are still alive in his town who remember him. He really was a dirt poor skinny little guy from a small farm and they say he was as kind as he could be.

[Bill Hollinger]

Look about half way down the page.

The other can't be Audie Murphy's carbine because the 3rd ID site, Audie Murphy, says this is his. Ain't this strange

[Harlan (Deceased)]

'Yuk' Bill.

The site you posted is actually fairly decent as far as a compilation of stories and photographs, but some enthusiest put it together by researching the internet and copying stuff. (At least they copied a carbine photo and not a Garand! )

Ha, maybe I can sell my authentic 'Audie Murphy Helmet' to the enthusiast who put the site together! (Keep away from my customer iboos, I need the cash! ;-)

[Bill Hollinger]

Isn't that sad?

[Andouille]

Audie Murphy's portrait hangs in the Senate chamber of the Capitol Building in Austin. I believe the only one of his generation so honored. Well maybe that bun of a sitch LBJ is hanging there too but I refuse to consider them equals.

I believe the story was, that Murphy was being interviewed about his Army service and he said you remember certain things, like your rifle's serial number was xxxxxxxxx and he reeled off the actual number, which the writer duly reported in the interview, and some orificer in the Army Material Command read the article and had both the snap to take note of the number and the pull to get the carbine tracked down at Anniston. When one considers that had not those two guys been paying attention to detail, that carbine might have ended up at Xuan Loc or some snit-hole in Central America and therefore lost forever, that therefore we owe the reporter and that orificer a huge debt of gratitude. Good night, Good Sirs, whoever and wherever you are.

[Cecil]

The carbine is in Fort Stewart's Wall of Honor. It's number is 1108783.

It was Audie's "Wounded Carbine" that he fixed himself. The carbine was sent back for repair but recovered by Audie as he remembered the serial number. FYI

Then which Audie Murphy carbine is in his museum in San Antonio?

[0311Shooter]

Not trying to wreck this thread but isn't it possible that Audie Murphy used MORE THAN ONE CARBINE in his term of service?

And since he seemed to recall numbers well, he probably gave different numbers at some point.

I used M-14s and Garands and 30 cal MGs and M-60's in my term. I regret that I never cared about the numbers at the time. I know of one Garand number I used since I happen to have an equipment sheet with the serial number.

But let's give old Murph a break.

[Art]

Heck, Murphy probably had more than one M1 rifle as well. When I was in the Army I had 3 M14's and a match M1911 and a .22 Ruger and I was in the Ord Corps. I was also issued an M1 Carbine once for an exercise. I can't remember the serial numbers of any of them now.

[audiesdad]

There are a lot of folks pushing up dasies all over the world who have been killed by soldiers using M1 Carbines. I know two men who used the M1 carbine in combat and found its power and accuracy to leave something to be desired. I met another who swore by it. Both men who found the carbine disappointing were using it outside its intended role and after their unfortunate experiences chose another weapon.

I read Murphy's book but it has been many years ago. I only recall one incident of him killing a sniper, that was a German who got off the first shot and wounded Murphy in the hip. I could obviously be mistaken about that being the only incident though. Surviving with a wound after having been targeted by a designated sniper is very, very rare. I believe that sniper's rifle was the one that was in the Life magazine story.

Anyone who does what Audie Murphy did in his military career has to be very brave, very skilled, have a very cool head, and last but far from least very lucky.

The event to which you are referring was not that Rifle event with the sniper that wounded him.
Both events were at about the same time, but different.
The event from which Murphy took the sniper's rifle happened at Cleurie Quarry, France. Audie killed the sniper and took the rifle. He actually managed to drill him between the eyes. The rifle was placed on the back of the unit chow truck and stayed there about 2 months as just several days later Audie was wounded. When he returned to the unit after recuperating he reclaimed the rifle and brought it home. It was assumed he gave it to his sister as there is a photo in "Life in July of '45 showing it to her. He actually gave it to his 12 year old nephew who still has it to this day.
To clarify the wound, he was wounded by sniper fire indirectly if we can say. He was leading his Platoon, and as always in the front with his Radio Man. The Radio man was hit and KIA instantly with a head wound. Second round was fired at Murphy, missed, richocheted off a tree and struck him in the hip. In those precious 2-3 seconds Murphy managed to return fire as he was falling. Witnesses say while holding his carbine with one hand as was reeling backward, fired and struck the Kraut in the head.
Not bad!

[audiesdad]

Audie Murphy's portrait hangs in the Senate chamber of the Capitol Building in Austin. I believe the only one of his generation so honored. Well maybe that bun of a sitch LBJ is hanging there too but I refuse to consider them equals.

I believe the story was, that Murphy was being interviewed about his Army service and he said you remember certain things, like your rifle's serial number was xxxxxxxxx and he reeled off the actual number, which the writer duly reported in the interview, and some orificer in the Army Material Command read the article and had both the snap to take note of the number and the pull to get the carbine tracked down at Anniston. When one considers that had not those two guys been paying attention to detail, that carbine might have ended up at Xuan Loc or some snit-hole in Central America and therefore lost forever, that therefore we owe the reporter and that orificer a huge debt of gratitude. Good night, Good Sirs, whoever and wherever you are.

The story that you relate is the correct version of how the rifle was recovered.