Terrance Michael Murphy; Audie Murphy’s son

Terrance Michael Murphy is the son of Audie Murphy. Terrance Michael Murphy’s father Audie was an American soldier, actor, songwriter, and rancher. He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. He received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. Pamela Archer was an airline stewardess and an Army Nurse.

Terrance Michael Murphy: Bio Summary

Terrance Michael Murphy is the son of Audie Murphy and his wife Pamela Archer. He was born on April 14, 1952, in the United States of America. As of 2022, Terrance is 70 years old. He is not the only child of his parents, he has another sibling, whose name is James Shannon Murphy. Terrance Michael is a Biographer.

Terrance Michael Murphy’s Parents

Terrance Michael’s father, Audie married actress Wanda Hendrix in 1949. Their divorce became final two years later in 1951. Four days later, he married former airline stewardess Pamela Opal Lee Archer with whom he had two sons: Terrance Michael and his brother, James Shannon.

Terrance’s mother Pamela also established her own distinctive 35-year career working as a patient liaison at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration hospital, treating every veteran who visited the facility as if they were a VIP.

His father also bred quarter horses at the Audie Murphy Ranch in what is now Menifee, California, and the Murphy Ranch in Pima County, Arizona.

His father’s horses raced at the Del Mar Racetrack, and he invested large sums of money in the hobby. Murphy’s gambling left his finances in a poor state. In 1968, he stated that he lost $260,000 in an Algerian oil deal and was dealing with the Internal Revenue Service over unpaid taxes. In spite of his financial difficulties, Murphy refused to appear in commercials for alcohol and cigarettes, mindful of the influence he would have on the youth market.

In May 1970, Terrance Michael Murphy’s father was arrested in Burbank, California, charged with battery and assault with intent to commit murder in a dispute with a dog trainer. He was accused of firing a shot at the man, which he denied. Murphy was cleared of the charges.

On 28 May 1971, Terrance Michael Murphy’s father, Audie was killed when the private plane in which he was a passenger crashed into Brush Mountain, near Catawba, Virginia, 20 miles (32 km) west of Roanoke in conditions of rain, clouds, fog, and zero visibility. The pilot and four other passengers were also killed.

The aircraft was a twin-engine Aero Commander 680 flown by a pilot who had a private pilot license and a reported 8,000 hours of flying time, but who held no instrument rating. The aircraft was recovered on 31 May. 

After her husband’s death, Terrance Michael Murphy, Pamela Archer moved into a small apartment and got a clerk position at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration Hospital in Los Angeles, where she remained employed for 35 years.

In 1975, a court awarded Murphy’s widow, Pamela Archer, and their two children, Terrance Michael Murphy and James Shannon, $2.5 million in damages because of the accident. On 7 June 1971, Pamela Archer’s husband was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. In attendance was Ambassador to the U.N. George H. W. Bush, Army Chief of Staff William Westmoreland, and many of the 3rd Infantry Division.