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Holtzwihr, France Memorial to Audie Murphy
Photo by Conrad Suckow
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On January 29, 2000 the people of the Holtzwihr, France located within the district of Alsace, commemorated a memorial to the men who fought and died with the 3rd Infantry Division under the command of the 1st French Army. With this in mind, Audie Murphy was singled out by the people erecting the monument as the soldier who best exemplified the courage, valor, and sacrifice these soldiers made. The monument was erected at the exact spot of the famous one-man-stand Audie waged against the Nazi enemy.
The memorial is quietly nestled in the woodline on a country road and cannot be seen from the main highway or from the town.
The monument is intended to be seen by people like those who commonly walk through for exercise and relaxation ... a popular custom of this region. It is to remind them that their enjoyed freedom came at a great cost of others.
The memorial's location is on the Rue de la Maison Rouge road. Traveling north from the town of Holzwihr (see the Google map link at the bottom of this page), the memorial stands just inside the southern edge of the woodline that crosses the road.
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Inscription, Holtzwihr Memorial
Photo by Bob Michel
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Inscription Translation:
"In memory. This memorial is dedicated to the soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Division and the Fourth Combat Command under the command of the 1st French Army who liberated Holtzwihr on 27 January 1945 after bloody combat under most trying conditions. It represents the heroic act that Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy of the 15th U.S. Infantry Regiment achieved at this site on 26 January 1945, in order to push back an enemy counterattack. For this action he was decorated with the highest American and French honors. Visitor, respect this memorial and forget not that these soldiers have died so that you live. Holtzwihr, 29 January 2000."
Note: Google has also marked the exact location on their online map of the Holtzwihr area. To see it click on the "View Google Map" documentation link to the right. When the larger map appears, find the yellow Google man on the left side of the map. Click and drag the yellow man along the Rue de la Maison Rouge road. A green pointer and a blue circle will appear to mark the exact location. Click on these marks to see some photos from Google of the Memorial.
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Holtzwihr, France Memorial to Audie Murphy
Photo by Donald G. Hagenseker
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