To Hell and Back: The Classic Memoir of World War II by America's Most Decorated Soldier

Audie Murphy

May 2002 · Macmillan + ORM

About this ebook

The classic bestselling war memoir by the most decorated American soldier in World War II. Originally published in 1949, To Hell and Back was a smash bestseller for fourteen weeks and later became a major motion picture starring Audie Murphy as himself.

Many decades later, this classic wartime memoir is just as gripping as it was then.

Desperate to see action but rejected by both the marines and paratroopers because he was too short, Murphy eventually found a home with the infantry. He fought through campaigns in Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. Although still under twenty-one years old on V-E Day, he was credited with having killed, captured, or wounded 240 Germans. He emerged from the war as America's most decorated soldier, having received twenty-one medals, including our highest military decoration, the Congressional Medal of Honor. To Hell and Back is a powerfully real portrayal of American GI's at war.

Ratings and reviews

This was an rare look into WW2 as a first hand account by an American hero, Audie Murphy. I would of given it 5 stars except I discovered a few grammar errors, and I found at times the dialog to be extremely hard to follow (sometimes you don't know who is speaking). I sometimes also question how much of the dialog is true because it seems like Audie recalls a lot of small talk between the soldiers that seems easily forgettable in the fog war. Despite those shortcomings it's a well written book, and as you read through the entire book he makes you feel as if you are one of the soldiers in his battalion fighting with him. I can't even imagine what he's seen, done, and been through as a human being even though he describes some of it in the book. I also find it very odd he escapes all of this danger yet is killed in a measly plane crash at an early age in the 70s; it's a shame really. I'm glad he was still able to share his story with us, and his fellow fallen soldier's story. For all nonfiction military lovers... this should be in your literature arsenal.

Audie Murphy takes no credit for being a hero. He constantly gives credit to everyone else. He gave Kerrigan credit for poems he wrote. He is one of the few great people who have no ego problems. God bless him wherever he is, and I am sure all soldiers, who face combat, are in Heaven. God knows they have been to Hell and back. .

Audie is straight up in his war time experience. No embellishments, a common man doing his duty during a a World War most hope will never happen again!

About the author

Audie Murphy was the most decorated American soldier during World War II. He went on to a long film career, starring in The Red Badge of Courage, The Quiet American, and his own To Hell and Back. He was killed in a plane crash in 1971 at age forty-six.