NCOs to honor Audie Murphy at Arlington

For anyone to still hang onto the idea PTSD is something to be ashamed of, they really need to read about Audie Murphy.

NCOs to honor Audie Murphy at Arlington
A ceremony is planned this morning to honor Sgt. Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier of World War II, on what would have been his 82nd birthday.

Post war illness
Murphy suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after his return from the war.[2][3] He was plagued by insomnia, bouts of depression, and nightmares related to his numerous battles.[2] His first wife, Wanda Hendrix, often talked of his struggle with this condition, even claiming that he had at one time held her at gunpoint. For a time during the mid-1960s, he became dependent on doctor-prescribed sleeping pills called Placidyl.[2] When he recognized that he had become addicted to the drug, he locked himself in a motel room where he took himself off the pills, going through withdrawal for a week.[2]

Always an advocate of the needs of America's military veterans, Murphy eventually broke the taboo about publicly discussing war-related mental conditions. In an effort to draw attention to the problems of returning Korean and Vietnam War veterans, Murphy spoke out candidly about his own problems with PTSD, known then and during World War II as "battle fatigue"[2] and also commonly known as "shell shock." He called on the United States government to give increased consideration and study to the emotional impact that combat experiences have on veterans, and to extend health care benefits to address PTSD and other mental-health problems suffered by returning war veterans.[2]

Awards
Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star (2)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star (2)
Purple Heart (3)
French Legion of Honor[1]
French Croix de Guerre (+ Palm)[1]
Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm[1]

Medal of Honor citation
The official U.S. Army citation for Audie Murphy's Medal of Honor reads:[1][7]

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Holtzwihr France, 26 January 1945.
Entered service at: Dallas, Texas. Birth: Hunt County, near Kingston, Texas, G.O. No. 65, 9 August 1944.
Citation: Second Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by six tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to a prepared position in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, one of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire, which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from three sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad that was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued his single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way back to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack, which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.[1][7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Murphy

Some will say that it's understandable that Audie Murphy would develop PTSD considering what he went through and dismiss any notion that others who were not as heroic are just faking it. We read their comments all the time whenever there is a report about PTSD, especially when it comes to awarding the Purple Heart for this kind of wound. We've heard their words when they complain about the need for treatment programs, funding research, blaming homeless veterans, along with dismissing PTSD altogether. Yet they forget about arguably the most famous PTSD veteran of all.

There was nothing to be ashamed of then and there is nothing to be ashamed of now. PTSD is a wound. Even the most bravest of all can get wounded by this "invisible wound." Even this term is incorrect when discussing PTSD. You can see it. You can see it in their eyes. You can see it in their actions. You can see it when they twitch and when they zone out during a flashback. In order to see this wound you have to pay attention.

The horrors of war do not just penetrate the soul by being shot at or shooting someone else, being blown up or blowing someone else up. They also come from witnessing these events. It comes from feeling you could be next the next time you even hear the sound of them. It also comes from the aftermath of these events. A soldier working on clean up detail. A soldier working on security after. Even one who has to pick up a vehicle blown up can be wounded by PTSD. We all need to remember this. What we need to remember more is that the next time you come into contact with anyone trying to inflict shame on PTSD, remind them of Audie Murphy then ask them what he had to be ashamed of.
Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos