SAMC SMA Leon Van Autreve Fort Sam Houston Chapter

12/19/2025

Sergeant Audie Murphy Fact!

In Audie Murphy's last will and testament he wanted a small funeral with a simple gravestone. He wanted his sons there AND his wife if they were still married at the time of his passing.

12/18/2025

Service Knows No Bounds 🧤🌲

This month, the members of the SMA Leon Van Autreve Sergeant Audie Murphy Club have been hard at work giving back to the community we call home.
From the streets to the hallowed grounds of the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, our members are committed to selfless service. We spent the weekend cleaning up our section of Harry Wurzbach Rd to keep our city beautiful, followed by the profound honor of laying Christmas wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes.
We serve to honor the legacy of those who came before us and to improve the lives of those around us today.

You lead from the front!

12/12/2025

Audie Murphy post of the day:

Audie Murphy is remembered as the ultimate warrior, but few know he was also a poet.

After the war, Murphy struggled deeply with what was then called "shell shock" (now PTSD). At a time when mental health was rarely discussed, he used poetry to process the loss of his friends. His poem, "The Crosses Grow on Anzio," captures the heavy burden of survival:

"Oh, gather 'round me, comrades; and listen while I speak;

Of a war, a war, a war... where hell is six feet deep."

Murphy was one of the first high-profile veterans to openly discuss his battle with nightmares and dependency on sleeping pills, breaking the stigma for thousands of others.

12/02/2025

I would like to start a weekly to bi-weekly information post geared towards candidates and those that enjoy the history of Audie Murphy. For this first post, let's discuss the SAMC Logo and what it means!

S*A*M*C: Initials separated-by three stars which represent the Be, Know, and Do for the NCO.

SSG Rank Insignia: Reflects Audie Murphy's highest enlisted rank.

The Eagle: Our national bird and symbol of freedom, the intent of the club to be nationwide.

The Laurel (otherwise known as the wreath): Represents the individual achievement of the NCOs in the club.

The Lightning Bolt: Represents swift and decisive NCOs must take.

The-Sword: A historical reference, a tool for the NCO to cut to the heart of the matter, to lead the charge.

The Streamers: Indicate upon which we base our philosophy

And separately, but equally important, SMA Leon L. Van Autreve for whom our chapter is named after in 1994.

11/11/2025

Members of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club (SAMC) had an incredible time at Poe Middle School today for Veterans Day.

We shared our experiences, discussed the many doors the military can open-from education to leadership-and answered great questions from the engaged students. Thank you for celebrating service with us!

10/25/2025

Great turnout today LVA SAMC Leaders and families! Your support and donations put us in the top 5 teams of funds raised with a total of $1,713! This goes directly to programs supporting our wounded warriors. Thank you all for making this such a successful event!

10/15/2025

Here is another amazing video that was put together by one of our own! A true testament of how amazing these young men and women performed. Might want to put some sunglasses on because their future is looking bright!

10/15/2025

10/15/2025

Huge congratulations to the JROTC cadets at Karen Wagner High School for absolutely crushing their Drill and Ceremony events on Saturday! The Sergeant Audie Murphy Club (SAMC) and outstanding NCOs from the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence were honored to assist and witness performances that were nothing short of professional and inspiring.

These young men and women are true standard bearers and represent their families, school, and community with incredible pride. You all were amazing!

10/02/2025

Another great board in the books!

A huge shout out to First Sergeant Brian Kolb for successfully completing the SAMA Board! We look forward to officially welcoming him into our prestigious club.

A special thank you to his sponsor, the board members, and the SAMC SMA Leon Van Autreve Fort Sam Houston Chapter study hall coordinators for their guidance and support throughout this journey.

Well done, and welcome to the SAMC family!