The First Battle of Bull Run takes place in Virginia, marking the first major battle of the Civil War. Confederate forces claim victory, highlighting the conflict’s potential duration and brutality.

TODAY’S PATRIOT

Audie Murphy (1925–1971) – The most decorated American soldier of World War II, Audie Murphy earned every major U.S. military award for valor, including the Medal of Honor. He single-handedly held off an entire German company and led successful counterattacks despite being wounded. After the war, he became a Hollywood actor and used his platform to raise awareness about PTSD among veterans. Murphy’s courage, humility, and advocacy for fellow soldiers made him a beloved American hero.

Despite his fame, Murphy suffered deeply from what would now be recognized as PTSD. He often slept with a loaded pistol under his pillow and spoke candidly about the emotional wounds of war—long before it became common for veterans to do so. In 1955, he wrote a poem titled “The Crosses Grow on Anzio,” mourning the cost of combat. Refusing to glamorize war, Murphy became one of the first public figures to demand better treatment for returning veterans.