European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 3, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday october 3, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9 proud Audie Murphy battalion still leads even in deactivation Over Here by John Millar Wurzburg Bureau Kaltenhauser Germany a the men of the 1st in 15th inf like to think they re sort of special even today. There was no question Back in 1945. At that time the battalions co b was commanded by a baby faced texan named Audie Murphy a second lieutenant who would finish world War ii As americans most decorated Soldier. On Jan. 26 of that year near Holt Wihr France Murphy single hand edly took on six German tanks and 200 enemy infantry winning the medal of Honor for himself and a spot in the history books for his battalion. Murphy who racked up 24 decorations by be Day would go on to write a Book Star in a string of a Grade movies beat an attempted murder rap and suffer bankruptcy before his death in a plane crash in 1971. The Audie Murphy battalion has fared better. Now a part of the highly decorated 3rd inf div the battalion carries Battle streamers that Date Back to the civil War and has 19 medal of Honor winners. In peacetime the battalion has made its Mark by leading the rest of the historic Marne division in modernization. It was the first a amps John Millar 1st sgt. Francis Goggins of co b wears the a Waudie hair of the 1st in 15th inf. M Europe to receive the army a Bradley fighting vehicle in 1983 and the first to try out much of the infantry equipment that flowed in the Reagan defense buildup that followed. Now says battalion commander it. Col. Mike Weimer the unit will Lead the division a in the Mission of  As part of the first round of . Troop cuts in Europe the unit will be deactivated by Spring. Closing Down Murphy a unit comes hard to some of the soldiers who Sard they hate to see history being packed up and put away even in the cause of peace. A its a big tradition something we hate to lose a said 1st sgt. Francis Goggins the co b first shirt. A my company a got four medal of Honor winners. The 82nd airborne dives got five in the whole  today co b soldiers keep the Murphy tradition alive by wearing bits and pieces of camouflage netting on their Kevlar helmets. Called a Waudie hair a its a badge of Honor Only Murphy a former company can Wear. Soldiers in the company also shout audies whenever they re called to attention Goggins said. A a we re hoping they re going to re designate another unit 1-15 so that the tradition does not  actually the battalion was de Active once before in 1921, then reformed in 1929. Still closing Down the unit May prove to be the toughest assignment since the battalion saw action during the Kum Sono offensive in Korea. A a we re not trained for it a Weimer said. A a we re creating and experiencing the rules As we go along since we re the first unit to do  on a recent Field deployment Likely the units last Weimer and other members of the battalion lamented the uncertainty of the future while they hustled armoured vehicles across a Pontoon Bridge. A when you get right Down to what you do Here its fun a battalion executive officer maj. Steve Alverado said about the River crossing. A a it a just the Cloud hanging Over you that says a hey you re going  a the exercise in question was planned months before to prepare the unit for a stint at the army Man Euver Center at Hohenfels Germany in february. Gunnery training was also planned for the battalion in november As Well As a simulated command and control exercise in december and another Field exercise in january. A a that show things would have flowed a Alverado said. A but of course the news broke. So this is the last Chance for the battalion to come out and do some War fighting before it stacks  the unit is scheduled to begin deactivating nov. 1, with the unit colors to be folded up by May 1. A most of 1st it. Audie Murphy them realize this is their last time out in the Field so they re keeping enthused a co bus Goggins said during the recent Man Euver. Back in Garrison morale is something battalion commander Weimer accepts As a personal Challenge. A a it a up to us As leaders to keep these Guys interested and motivated and personally and professionally ready a Weimer said. A if you can to focus on Large training exercises you focus on families you focus on troop support systems you focus on family support  without Large Field exercises the troops of the Audie Murphy battalion will be expected to handle increased amounts of personal training such As marksmanship physical training and a those things that keep Soldier competitive As Well As physically and mentally Sharp a Weimer said. So far members of the battalion Are trying to take the deactivation of the unit in stride. Sgt. Donnie Hudson a co b squad Leader said he has enjoyed his stint with Murphy s old unit but is a a Little bit heartbroken to have to pack up and  until deactivation Day dawns though a a we la go out and do our Mission and do our Best he said. Audie Murphy probably  have had it any other Way. A amps John Millar a if a Oao Donn i m a 15th inf Cross the main River Dunn an exercise left and squad Leader sgt. Donnie Hudson is heartbroken about the battalions impending deactivation