I watch a lot of GRIT TV, and in the past few years have become a big fan of Audie Murphy and his Westerns. Even though Murphy wasn’t the best actor in the world, the fact that he was the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II gave his on-screen heroics a touch of realism.
It was fifty years ago on May 28, 1971, that he died in a plane crash along with four other passengers and the pilot. It was a horrible ending for one of the bravest men who ever lived. Even my mother watches his movies with a tinge of sadness.
Below is the article from the Journal of June 1, 1971 reporting his tragic death.
Strangely enough, on that same page of the Journal was the report of the death of another soldier – Specialist Fourth Class Philip E. Crisp of Lorain – who died at Fort George Mead, Maryland. As one of the unsung heroes of our military, it’s only right to highlight him and his service today on Memorial Day, the day that we honor those men and women who died while serving in the military.
As his obituary notes, “Born in Lorain, he enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1969. He completed his basic training at Fort Campbell, Ky., and received advanced training in Army Missiles at Fort Bliss, Tex.
“Crisp was one of thousands of men in the military called in during anti-war demonstrations last month in Washington, D.C., and received a broken nose during a melee."
Philip Crisp came from a family who believed in serving their country. His father, Alphonce Crisp, was a World War II, U. S. Army Veteran. His brother Gary Crisp served in the U. S. Air Force.
It’s especially sad that Crisp died so young, and at the beginning of his military career.
I don’t know the Crisp family. But I share their grief today – Memorial Day 2021 – for their loss that occurred fifty years ago.
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My older brother Ken and his wife Patty both served in the U. S. Army.
Ken told me that during Basic Training, one of his fellow recruits was going through their exercises with the chin strap of his helmet unbuckled. Of course, that drew the wrath of their sergeant, who told him to fasten it – pronto.
“Who do you think you are?” the sergeant barked at the hapless soldier. "Audie Murphy?”
