Audie Murphy Legacy - Military Career

Military Career

His mother's death added even more impetus to his ambition to become a soldier. Murphy tried to enlist, but was declined by both the U.S. Marines and U.S. Army paratroopers because of weight requirements. The Navy also turned him down for being underweight. He was finally accepted in the infantry by the United States Army. He was inducted at Greenville and sent to Camp Wolters, Texas, for basic training. He envisioned himself becoming a glider pilot. During a session of close order drill, he passed out and was nicknamed "Baby". His company commander tried to have him transferred to a cook and bakers' school, but Murphy insisted on becoming a combat soldier. After 13 weeks of basic training, he was sent to Fort Meade, Maryland for advanced infantry training.