Team Lee Audie Murphy Club
Fort Lee, VirginiaThe History of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club
The original club was started at Fort Hood, Texas early in 1986. There were several key people at Fort Hood - officer, enlisted, civil service, and a Killeen civilian - who were instrumental in getting this club up and running. Leading the effort was Lieutenant General Crosbie Saint, then the III Corps commander; his Command Sergeant Major George L. Horvath; III Corps Awards Clerk Jean Crisp, and Don Moore, a Killeen artist who assisted with designing the logo and club awards. In 1991, then III Corps Commander Lieutenant General Pete Taylor and Command Sergeant Major Richard B. Cayton expanded the Fort Hood installation club to include all of III Corps. This included Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Polk, Louisiana; and Fort Carson, Colorado. In 1993, CSM Cayton was voted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club by the membership and then became the Forces Command Sergeant Major. Soon thereafter, the club became Forces-Command (FORSCOM) wide, including the Reserves and National Guard. In 1994 at a Sergeant Major of the Army conference, the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club spread Army-wide, to all commands with installations retaining the selection process for their own NCOs. In 1998, it was estimated that the club membership was over 3000 soldiers and was steadily increasing.
The Meaning of the Crest
The crest was designed by one of the original organizers of the club, Mr. Don Moore, Illustrator of Killeen, Texas. The letters SAMC are an abbreviation for the "Sergeant Audie Murphy Club". The 3 stars separating the letters represent the "Be", "Know" and "Do" which is at the core of an Army NCO's professional spirit. The majestic American Bald Eagle is the national bird and our country's symbol for freedom. The eagle also represents the intent of the SAMC to be nationwide. The laurel represents the individual achievement of the NCO in the club. The lightning bolt represents swift and decisive action taken by the NCO. The sword is a historical reference and is the symbolic tool of the NCO to cut to the heart of the matter and to lead the charge. The U.S. Army staff sergeant stripes represent the highest enlisted rank attained by Audie Murphy. The powder-blue streamers, the color of the infantry, indicate the words of the NCO philosophy: Loyalty, Caring, Discipline, and Professionalism.
The Motto
"You lead from the front."
...Audie Murphy
The Medallion
When a soldier is inducted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, he/she is given the medallion above which is approximately 2 inches in diameter. The medallion is suspended by a broad powder-blue ribbon representing the traditional color of the infantry. The medallion is worn around the neck on the outside of the Class A or Dress Blue uniform for official functions such as military balls or Sergeant Audie Murphy Club meetings. The image above is a drawing of the front view of the medallion. The image below is the back view. The actual medallion is silver in color.
