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Lt Audie Murphy and Cpt Charles P. Murray Jr. Plaque

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Details:

On the roof of Terminal 1.

Plaque

A rectangular plaque honoring the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division Medal of Honor recipients Lieutenant Audie Murphy and Captain Charles P. Murray, Jr., who were awarded their Medals of Honor at the airfield during June-July 1945 for combat actions earlier in World War II. The plaque displays the U.S. flag and 3rd Infantry Division patch, the Medal of Honor, photographs of Lt. Audie L. Murphy and Capt. Charles P. Murray Jr., another Medal of Honor emblem, and the Austrian federal and military flags alongside the Coat of Arms of Salzburg. The plaque is written in both English and German. 

Current and former Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. and German Military Attaches, and local officials dedicated the plaque on May 4, 2024, at a ceremony held to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the liberation of Salzburg by 3rd Infantry Division on May 4, 1945. The plaque has a replica that was presented by the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division to the Austrian Ambassador to the United States on February 24, 2021, at the Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C., after the original unveiling at Salzburg Airport was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source of information: www.dvidshub.net, www.archive.austria.org

Source of photos: www.archive.austria.org, www.war.go, x.com/kershaw_alex

Monument Text:

 

After Salzburgs peaceful surrender to the 3rd Infantry Division, commanded by Major General John Wilson Iron Mike ODaniel, on 4 May 1945, the Division served as the American occupation force until AUgust 1945. From 8 Nov 1942 the Division served 351days in combat in Morocco, Sicily, Italy, France, Germany, and Austria. LT Audie L. Murphy, Americas most-decorated soldier of WWII, was presented the USAs highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, by 7th Army Commanding General Lieutenant General Alexander M. Patch, Jr. in a cermony on the Salzburg airfield on 2 June 1945 for actions on 26 January 1945 near Holtzwihr, France. On 5 July 1945 CPT Charles P. Murray, Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions near Kayersberg, France 18 December 1944. In the same ceremony the 3rd Infantry Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for the Battle of the Colmar Pocket in France Jan-Feb 1945.

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Nach der friedlichen Übergabe Salzburgs an die 3. Infanteriedivision unter dem Kommando von Generalmajor John Wilson Iron Mike ODaniel am 4. Mai 1945, diente die Division bis August 1945 als amerikanische Besatzungstruppe. Ab den 8. November 1942 kam die Division fur 351 Tage bei Kämpfen in Marokko, Italien, Frankreich, Deutschland, und Österreich zum Einsatz. Leutnant Audie L. Murphy, Amerikas meistdekorierter Soldat des Zweiten Weltkriegs, wurde am 2. Juni 1945 im Rahmen eines Festakts auf dem Salzburger Flugplatz von Generalleutnant Alexander M. Patch Jr. für seine Tapferkeit in einim Gefecht am 26. Januar 1945 nahe Holtzwihr, Frankreich, die Medal of Honor, das höchste militärische Abzeichen der USA, verliehen. Am 5. Juli 1945 wurde Hauptmann Charles P. Murray, Jr. für Tapferkeit am 18. Dezember 1944 nahe Kayersberg, Frankreich, die Medal of Honor verliehen. In der Selben Zeremonie erhielt die 3. Infanteriedivision die Presidential Unit Citation für ihre Leistungen in der Schlacht von Kolmar von Januar bis Februar 1945 in Frankreich. 

ROCK OF THE MARNE!

Commemorates:

People:

Audie Leon Murphy

Charles Patrick, Jr. Murray

John Wilson “Iron Mike” O'Daniel

Alexander M.'Sandy' II Patch

Units:

15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division

30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division

3rd Infantry Division

United States Army

Wars:

WWII

Other images :