One of the most famous stories comes from January 26, 1945, near Holtzwihr, France. Murphy, then a second lieutenant, was ordered to hold off a German attack with just a handful of men. When the enemy tanks and infantry advanced, Murphy mounted an abandoned burning tank destroyer and, armed with a .50 caliber machine gun, opened fire. Despite being wounded, he directed artillery fire and continued fighting until the enemy retreated. This action alone saved his company and earned him the Medal of Honor—the highest U.S. military decoration.