FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Melvin E Biddle ~ 18 November 2024

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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! 

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

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

THANK YOU
for your service!

[PROCON]

Thanks for tonight’s Canteen, Kathy and for honoring our Hero!

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Melvin E Biddle ~

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[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.
I hope you’re feeling better today.

Nice to see some sunshine up there today.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...

Home of the Free Because of the Brave....well said.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...another hero that must be remembered.

All rested and ready for a new week of retirement? It’s a tad chilly here...15 degrees.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...did you get all your leaves raked?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sun was nice to see as I shoveled 5” of snow off my deck, while LOTS of ducks watched, quacked, and several came on the deck.

Feeling better, but another day of rest is helping.

Did you and Champ accomplish your goals?

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Thanks for another bio!

[radu]

Whew, glad to hear you’re feeling better. Keep getting as much rest as you can through the evening.

5 inches? More than I thought had fallen. At least it was a light, fluffy snow and that’s easier to shovel.
Several ducks got up on the deck? More and more are getting brave as time goes on.

Yes, mission accomplished. Back yard is mowed and that was the last of it .... I hope. I’d like to winterize Champ and let him stay in the garage for a few months.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch...glad you enjoy the bios of our heroes.

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

El Amor De Tu Vida - Willito Otero ( Live Sesiones Desde La Loma )

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[luvie]

Melvin Earl "Bud" Biddle
November 28, 1923 December 16, 2010
US Army soldier and
Medal of Honor Recipient
for actions in World War II.
What a brave hero he was. R.I.P.....

[Kudsman]

Hey. I’m going to grab a coke and look around. How’s things?

[luvie]

All is well. Raining hard here...for which we are extremely happy. Got my diet
Coke by my side as we speak.

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Looin’ pretty good down there today and tonight. When I’ve checked the radar, it’s showed rain. YAY!

[PROCON]

Hey Kathy, each retirement week is better than the last but it still sucks getting old, LOL.

We're getting cooler temps with rain forecasted, nice for the farmers though.

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

Yes! In the last hour or so, we've had 2.6 INCHES!!!! I'm in heaven. Of course, the kitties aren't happy. Hubby said Grey came out of her little house when he went to check the gauge a bit ago. Now it's raining again! WOOHOO!!

Hope you had a good day!