Another Police Department: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

July 11, 2020
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We could not be prouder to have the opportunity to partner with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Department!  This is our first agreement on the federal level, and it expands our growth in healthcare and law enforcement, all the while supporting the care and safety of our veterans during their visits to the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veteran’s Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.  It’s admirable to see the VA adopt cutting edge technology as they strive to provide the best possible experience for everyone that visits their healthcare system.

We could dive right into this use case to tell you all the great things the K5 Autonomous Security Robot will do at the VA and why they’ve partnered with us, but we’re not. Instead, we’re going to draw your attention to the name on this hospital.  We have reason to pause for a moment to better understand and appreciate the individual, Audie Leon Murphy, and what he did for our country.  So, we share this with you as a tribute to his memory.

Audie Leon Murphy was a legend in his own time as a war hero, movie actor, songwriter and poet.  He made a lasting imprint on American history and is another amazing example of The Greatest Generation. He is the most decorated soldier of World War II.

Audie was born to Texas sharecroppers in 1924.  When he was just 17 years old, at 5’5” tall and weighing 110 pounds, he tried to join the Marines and the paratroopers, but neither would have him.  Falsifying his birth certificate so that he appeared to be 18, he settled on the infantry and enlisted in the Army in 1942.  Throughout his three years of active service, Murphy fought in nine major campaigns in the European theatre.  He received every medal the Army had to offer including two Silver Stars and three Purple Hearts.  He received the Medal of Honor for his valor and medals from France and Belgium, too.

Through some 400 days spent fighting on the front lines, he earned a total of 33 military awards, medals, and citations.

In June 1945, he returned home from Europe a hero and was greeted with parades and elaborate banquets.  LIFE magazine honored the baby-faced soldier by putting him on the cover of its July 16, 1945 issue.  Discharged from the Army on September 21, 1945, Audie went to Hollywood at the invitation of movie star James Cagney.  Living in California for the remainder of his life, he was closely associated with the movie industry, both as an actor and as a producer.  In 1949, Murphy published his autobiography, To Hell and Back.  The book quickly became a national bestseller, and in 1955 he portrayed himself in the film version of his book.  The movie was a hit and held Universal Studio’s record as its highest-grossing motion picture until 1975.  Murphy would go on to make 44 feature films in all.

Sadly, Audie died on May 28, 1971 at the age of 45 in a plane crash near Roanoke, Virginia.  He was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.

We greatly appreciate our veterans and are proud to support, in our own small way, the women and men who have bravely fought for our country as they visit the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veteran’s Hospital.  You have our sincere and undying gratitude for your service to this amazing country of ours.  Know that our Autonomous Security Robots are delivering a tall and proud Texas salute to each and every one of you visiting the Hospital and wishing you the best of health.

DISCLAIMER: The above is a statement of fact and is not intended to be an endorsement of Knightscope products, technologies, or its services.

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