Audie Murphy series at Fort Miles begins Jan. 25

Fort Miles Historical Association recently announced that Audie Murphy will be the subject of its third annual winter film and lecture series.

Events will take place on Saturdays, Jan. 25, Feb. 22 and March 28, in the Fort Miles Museum Gift Shop, Battery 519, Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes.

The Jan. 25 lecture topic will be “The Life of Audie Murphy - A True American Hero.”

Murphy grew up wanting to be a soldier. As World War II broke out, he attempted to enlist and was turned down by the Army, Navy and Marine Corps for being underweight and underage. With his sister’s aid, he miraculously aged by one year, reapplied and joined the Army in mid-1942.

Murphy served with distinction in the Italian campaign which started with a landing in Sicily in July 1943. In 1944, he landed on Yellow Beach near Ramatuelle, France, and received the Distinguished Service Cross for action taken Aug. 15 against defending German forces.

Murphy’s courageous actions throughout the war will be discussed. For these actions, Audie Murphy received 33 U.S. military medals including three Purple Hearts and the Medal of Honor. Attendees will hear the full story of this true American hero.

Free to the first 60 patrons requesting admission, tickets for each event are available at 10:30 a.m. the date of the event; presentations will begin at noon and last about 75 to 90 minutes. The gift shop will continue to be open until 2 p.m. following each event.

Audie Murphy starred in the film of his life story, “To Hell and Back.”  Part I will be shown Feb. 22. Part II will be shown March 28.

For more information, go to www.fortmilesha.org.