Brent Casey, the grandson of Woody Williams, who is involved with the Medal of Honor Society since Woody is the Chaplain of the society, just informed me that another reciepient has passed on...........Melvin
Biddle of Anderson, Indiana. I did not know, and never met, him, but as all the other servicemen who helped secure our freedom to this point he should be honored.
This is what appeared in the Indiana media about him:
"Anderson - A Medal of Honor recipient from central Indiana has passed away.
Melvin Biddle died Friday in Anderson at the age of 87. He received his Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman at the White House on October 12, 1945. As he awarded the medal to Biddle, Truman whispered that he'd "rather have one of these than be president."
Biddle earned the Medal of Honor for his efforts as a lead scout during an attack on Hotton, Belgium, which was encircled by the enemy, on December 23-24, 1944. His courage and daring was cited during the 20-hour battle. He was a Private First Class with Company B, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army at the time of the battle.
Biddle was born in Daleville in 1923. He is survived by his wife, Leona, and many other family members.
There are 86 Medal of Honor recipients alive today.
Biddle's Medal of Honor citation
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."
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May he rest in peace and be remembered well for the life he led, and what he did for all of us.
Ron
P.S. Friends and family may call at Robert D. Loose Funeral Homes & Crematory, 200 W. 53rd St., from noon to 2 p.m. Monday. Services will follow at 2 p.m. Monday, with Minister Matthew Griner officiating. Burial will be in Anderson Memorial Park Cemetery.
A military remembrance will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at American Legion Post 127, 4118 Columbus Ave., Anderson. For information, call 644-9895
Biddle of Anderson, Indiana. I did not know, and never met, him, but as all the other servicemen who helped secure our freedom to this point he should be honored.
This is what appeared in the Indiana media about him:
"Anderson - A Medal of Honor recipient from central Indiana has passed away.
Melvin Biddle died Friday in Anderson at the age of 87. He received his Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman at the White House on October 12, 1945. As he awarded the medal to Biddle, Truman whispered that he'd "rather have one of these than be president."
Biddle earned the Medal of Honor for his efforts as a lead scout during an attack on Hotton, Belgium, which was encircled by the enemy, on December 23-24, 1944. His courage and daring was cited during the 20-hour battle. He was a Private First Class with Company B, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army at the time of the battle.
Biddle was born in Daleville in 1923. He is survived by his wife, Leona, and many other family members.
There are 86 Medal of Honor recipients alive today.
Biddle's Medal of Honor citation
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."
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[/IMG]May he rest in peace and be remembered well for the life he led, and what he did for all of us.
Ron
P.S. Friends and family may call at Robert D. Loose Funeral Homes & Crematory, 200 W. 53rd St., from noon to 2 p.m. Monday. Services will follow at 2 p.m. Monday, with Minister Matthew Griner officiating. Burial will be in Anderson Memorial Park Cemetery.
A military remembrance will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at American Legion Post 127, 4118 Columbus Ave., Anderson. For information, call 644-9895
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