Sad and Inspiring...

Many of you will instantly recognize the man at right, but some of my younger readers probably won't even recognize his name: Audie Murphy.  He was a Marine in World War II, and the most decorated American soldier in that conflict – a hero by any measure.

After the war, Audie earned a fortune in the movies – then squandered it all on wine, women, and gambling.  When he died in 1971, his widow inherited only a large debt.

I knew that story, both sad and inspiring, but didn't know the rest of the story – all inspiring – until I read about the death of his wife (at left) this week.  She spent the last 35 years taking care of wounded and sick soldiers at a VA hospital in Sepulveda. 

I'd say Audie married a woman above his rank...