Obit: Mrs Audie Murphy - April 2010

Subject: BS: Obit: Mrs Audie Murphy - April 2010
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 12:48 PM

Here's a story that sliped by me - I just heard about it from a friend. Just in time for July 4th.

Daily News Story



Pam Murphy, widow of actor Audie Murphy, was veterans' friend and advocate

After Audie died, they all became her boys. Every last one of them.

Any soldier or Marine who walked into the Sepulveda VA hospital and care center in the last 35 years got the VIP treatment from Pam Murphy.

The widow of Audie Murphy – the most decorated soldier in World War II – would walk the hallways with her clipboard in hand making sure her boys got to see a specialist or doctor — STAT. If they didn't, watch out.

Her boys weren't Medal of Honor recipients or movie stars like Audie, but that didn't matter to Pam. They had served their country. That was good enough for her.

She never called a veteran by his first name. It was always "Mister." Respect came with the job.

"Nobody could cut through VA red tape faster than Mrs. Murphy," said veteran Stephen Sherman, speaking for thousands of veterans she befriended over the years.

"Many times I watched her march a veteran who had been waiting more than an hour right into the doctor's office. She was even reprimanded a few times, but it didn't matter to Mrs. Murphy.

"Only her boys mattered. She was our angel."

Last week, Sepulveda VA's angel for the last 35 years died peacefully in her sleep at age 90.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit: Mrs Audie Murphy - April 2010
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 01:04 PM

RIP

Subject: RE: BS: Obit: Mrs Audie Murphy - April 2010
From: Rog Peek
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 01:10 PM

What a lovely lady.

Rog

Subject: RE: BS: Obit: Mrs Audie Murphy - April 2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 01:44 PM

I had no idea. Lucky vets to have met her and received such kind care. Thanks for posting it, Wesley.

Subject: RE: Obit: Mrs Audie Murphy - April 2010
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 06:17 PM

Audie Murphy admitted before he died that he slept with the lights on and a loaded and cocked .45 by his bed every night since he was discharged. He was a classic case of what we now know as PTSD, and this lady's life must many times have been a living hell.

A gallant and gutsy lady (and not bad looking!) -- we need more like her.

Subject: RE: Obit: Mrs Audie Murphy - April 2010
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 07:39 PM

Wow......Never knew.............A fine lady.......She needed/deserved a MoH of her own. Thanks Wesley

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: Mrs Audie Murphy - April 2010
From: bubblyrat
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 06:08 AM

The power of Mudcat to tell us such moving and heartwarming stories is indeed quite remarkable,and something for which I am grateful.

Subject: RE: Obit: Mrs Audie Murphy - April 2010
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 07:15 AM

What amazes me about Audie Murphy is that he wasn't a seasoned veteran during all the fighting that he did but merely a teenager!

Subject: RE: Obit: Mrs Audie Murphy - April 2010
From: DougR
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 10:34 PM

Audie Murphy joined the Texas National Guard during the Korean war. I met him one day at the PX when the 36th Division was at summer camp at Camp Polk, Louisiana. I was struck by his size. He was a bit over five feet tall, but was a helluva soldier. I didn't know this about his wife. May she rest in peace.

DougR

Subject: RE: Obit: Mrs Audie Murphy - April 2010
From: GUEST,joyce Beck
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 10:01 AM

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET PAM MURPHY AND TALK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SINCE MY HUSBAND WAS ONE OF THE VETERANS SHE HELPED. I AM A REGISTERED NURSE AND COULD APPRECIATE THE JOB SHE WAS DOING BUT ESPECIALLY ENJOYED THE STORY SHE TOLD OF HOW SHE MET AND MARRIED AUDIE MURPHY. SHE WAS AN AIRLINE STEWARDESS FROM KANSAS AND AUDIE WAS ON HER FLIGHT ONE DAY. HER AND 2 OTHER STEWARDESS LATER CALLED HIM AT THE LOCATION OF HIS MOVIE AND HE INVITED THEM TO HAVE LUNCH THERE WITH HIM. THEY DID AND PAM AND AUDIE DATED AND MARRIED. SHE SAID THE OTHER STEWARDESS SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO MEET VAN JOHNSON OR SOME OTHER MOVIE STAR BUT SHE SAID "NOT ME,I WANT THAT WAR HERO". PAM MURPHY WAS A REAL LADY AND VERY PROFESSIONAL WITH A HEART FOR HER VETERANS. IT IS A GREAT LOSS FOR THE VETERANS AND ANYONE WHO KNEW HER.

Subject: RE: Obit: Mrs Audie Murphy - April 2010
From: GUEST,Tony Noto
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 03:08 PM

I live right up the street from the V.A.Hospital where she gave of herself, without any fanfair... all those men and women of all the services she helped, without blowing her own horn, Audie Murphy was one of my hero's growing up, not the movie star but the military carrier is what got me. I never got the chance to meet him, seems all these years with her working right down the street and living just across town makes me wish I had, Pamela Murphy ... another "American Hero" ... GOD BLESS HER and may she rest in peace!