David A. Smith (1) (1966–)

The full, tragic story of Audie Murphy, most decorated American soldier in history turned movie star. This first-rate boo covers his origins, military experiences, movie career, and his unending postwar battle with PTSD. Murphy wrote an autobiography, To Hell and Back, which is less about heroism than the loss of his friends. He reluctantly agreed to do the movie version, given the unenviable opportunity to relive the death of his mother and loss of friends in combat during filming. His PTSD was severe, waking up from nightmares, pounding on the walls sleeping with a gun under his pillow, and enduring the loss of joy and anticipation due to deadened senses. The last led Murphy to a gambling problem that cleaned him out by the time he died in a plane crash at 46. Very touching account.… (meer)