FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Melvin E Biddle ~ 28 March 2022

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Melvin E. Biddle

Info from here and here.

           

Melvin Earl "Bud" Biddle (November 28, 1923 – December 16, 2010) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Biddle was born on November 28, 1923, in Daleville, Indiana, to Owen J. and Blanche Olive (Bowen) Biddle. He had two brothers, Ralph and Lee, and three sisters, Marie, Carolyn, and Eileen. A life-long resident of the area, Biddle attended elementary school in Daleville and graduated from Anderson High School in nearby Anderson, Indiana. He worked for Delco Remy in Anderson until being drafted into the U.S. Army.

By December 23, 1944, Biddle was serving in Europe as a private first class in Company B of the 1st Battalion, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

The orders from Melvin E. Biddle's Army commander came quickly. The officer pointed at then-Pfc. Biddle and barked, "You! Out front!"

It was late December 1944 and a ragtag company of American cooks and clerks were stranded in Hotton, Belgium, about four miles from Mr. Biddle's unit near Soy.

The Battle of the Bulge had just begun, and the troops in Hotton were surrounded and outnumbered by German forces. They needed to be rescued. Leading the stealthy advance through the snowy forests was Mr. Biddle, who took over when his unit's two lead scouts were injured in a land-mine blast.

A week later, he was wounded in the neck by shrapnel which just missed his jugular vein. After recovering in England for several weeks, he headed back to his unit and on the way learned through an article in Stars and Stripes that he would be awarded the Medal of Honor.

For his actions during the battle near Soy, Biddle was awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House on October 30, 1945, by President Harry Truman. When presenting the medal to Biddle, Truman whispered "People don't believe me when I tell them that I'd rather have one of these than be President."

Biddle was later promoted to corporal. In addition to the Medal of Honor, he also received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

On December 1, 1946, Biddle married his childhood sweetheart, Leona Elsie Allen. The couple had two daughters, Elissa and Marsha.

After leaving the military, Biddle returned to Indiana and worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs. He helped distribute loans and benefits to veterans for 26 years until his retirement. He also served on the Anderson City Council.

Biddle rarely spoke of his Medal of Honor action. He gave occasional interviews and appeared at events honoring veterans but preferred to lead a more private life. He was an avid golfer and a member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

Biddle died of congestive heart failure on December 16, 2010, at Saint John's Medical Center in Anderson following a sudden illness.

Aged 87 at his death, he was buried in Anderson's Memorial Park Cemetery on December 20. In deference to his family's beliefs as Jehovah's Witnesses, Biddle requested that his funeral be free of military observances. His death date was the 66th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Bulge, in which he earned the Medal of Honor, and he was Indiana's last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II.

Biddle's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy near Soy, Belgium, on 23 and 24 December 1944. Serving as lead scout during an attack to relieve the enemy-encircled town of Hotton, he aggressively penetrated a densely wooded area, advanced 400 yards until he came within range of intense enemy rifle fire, and within 20 yards of enemy positions killed 3 snipers with unerring marksmanship. Courageously continuing his advance an additional 200 yards, he discovered a hostile machine-gun position and dispatched its 2 occupants. He then located the approximate position of a well-concealed enemy machine-gun nest, and crawling forward threw hand grenades which killed two Germans and fatally wounded a third. After signaling his company to advance, he entered a determined line of enemy defense, coolly and deliberately shifted his position, and shot 3 more enemy soldiers. Undaunted by enemy fire, he crawled within 20 yards of a machine-gun nest, tossed his last hand grenade into the position, and after the explosion charged the emplacement firing his rifle. When night fell, he scouted enemy positions alone for several hours and returned with valuable information which enabled our attacking infantry and armor to knock out 2 enemy tanks. At daybreak he again led the advance and, when flanking elements were pinned down by enemy fire, without hesitation made his way toward a hostile machine-gun position and from a distance of 50 yards killed the crew and 2 supporting riflemen. The remainder of the enemy, finding themselves without automatic weapon support, fled panic stricken. Pfc. Biddle's intrepid courage and superb daring during his 20-hour action enabled his battalion to break the enemy grasp on Hotton with a minimum of casualties.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

 

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[The Mayor]

Our Daily Bread

Monday,
March 28, 2022

His Peace

Read: Isaiah 26:3–7

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

For several months, I coped with intense workplace politics and intrigues. Worrying is second nature to me, so I was surprised to find myself at peace. Instead of feeling anxious, I was able to respond with a calm mind and heart. I knew that this peace could come only from God.

In contrast, there was another period in my life when everything was going well—and yet I felt a deep unrest in my heart. I knew it was because I was trusting in my own abilities instead of trusting God and His leading. Looking back, I’ve realized that true peace—God’s peace—isn’t defined by our circumstances, but by our trust in Him.

God’s peace comes to us when our minds are steadfast (Isaiah 26:3). In Hebrew, the word for steadfast means “to lean upon.” As we lean on Him, we’ll experience His calming presence.  We can trust in God, remembering that He’ll humble the proud and wicked and smooth the paths of those who love Him (vv. 5–7).

When I experienced peace in a season of difficulty rather than ease, I discovered that God’s peace isn’t an absence of conflict, but a profound sense of security even in distress. It’s a peace that surpasses human understanding and guards our hearts and minds in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances (Philippians 4:6−7). — Karen Huang

What do you do to experience peace? In what areas of your life do you need to trust God and lean on Him? 

Father, help me to trust You and have a steadfast mind. Thank You for the perfect peace that comes to me when I choose to trust You.

Bible in a year: Judges 4–6; Luke 4:31–44

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Melvin E Biddle ~

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...is spring still there?

We are still melting, but nary a ray of sunshine today. It’s gloomy outside, but MELTING.

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

[PROCON]

Thanks for honoring tonight's Hero, Kathy.

Son's over again for dinner and hanging, see ya later.

[left that other site]

I raked last years leaves today! :-)

[mylife]

hat tip Melvin

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Watching the Oscars? (Neither am I.)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

All rested up, back included, and ready to take on the new week?

Can you see spring?

[luvie]

Melvin Earl "Bud" Biddle
November 28, 1923 – December 16, 2010
United States Army Soldier
Medal of Honor Recipient
—for his actions in World War II.
GOD REST HIS HERO SOUL...

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

It looks like your skies were similar to ours today. Sunshine to start out with, with clouds rolling in later.

It wasn’t as windy as yesterday but it also wasn’t as warm. This cold front doesn’t seem to want to move on.

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Did you go to bed early enough to get through today relatively brain fog-free? :-)

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

I WENT to bed on time, but yet again couldn’t sleep much at all. I think the thought of missing the alarm messes me up. And I’m a light sleeper, so every time anything moves here in the house, I hear it.

How was your day? Still sore? I saw from Reed Timmer’s YouTube that you might be in for some pretty nasty stuff by Wednesday. Hope the models are wrong about that!

[radu]

Boy, do I know how THAT is. I don’t have trouble going to sleep because I’m afraid of missing the alarm though. It simply isn’t easy to go to sleep early. Tough being night owls, isn’t it? LOL

It was a lazy day. I’m not nearly as sore as I expected to be.

They’ve been talking about Wed. on the Nashville weather reports for a couple of days. We’re out of the bulls eye at this point but that could change between now and then. At this point, the brunt will stay well south of us again.

[luvie]

Well, I hope you get lucky and it stays south of you again. I’m sure you don’t really need the rain either, but man! Your yard is going to be a jungle when it starts turning green. LOL! Or has it already started? Ours still looks like straw.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...how is recovery going for your hard work at the museum yesterday? Are you ambulatory?

Gloomy, gloomy day here on my side of town, but melting continues.

[Kathy in Alaska]

You and son have a wonderful time dining and hanging.

[radu]

We just have to wait and see how it goes. I wouldn’t mind a nice thunderstorm or two with light shows. LOL We keep getting rain and wind but no lightning here.

The grass is already growing fast. One day everything was brown and now it’s green. It’s going to be pretty jungly here this summer with gas prices as high as they are. Too much acreage to mow.