I received the sad news by email today that WW2 Medal of Honnor recipient Melvin Biddle has died. He was a member of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment. To me he was special because he was one of the veterans I interviewed during my research about the war in southern France. He received the Medal of Honnor for actions in the Bulge, so I ddint ask him about that.
He told me a few humorous stories, the most interesting was about a guy who went off the path for a minute to take a crap, and was then captured by the Germans.
He said he got lots of mail with pictures to be autographed, and he always sent replies.
Hoosier Medalof Honor recipient Melvin Biddle dies
From Indystar.com
Written by Vic Ryckaert
Melvin E. Biddle, the last surviving Hoosier to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II, died Thursday at his home in Anderson.
He was 87.
Friends said Biddle, a Daleville native, was a humble man who rarely talked about the two days in 1944 when he single-handedly killed more than a dozen German soldiers.
"He didn't want to be publicized too much," said Lew Goodwin, commander of Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 266 in Anderson. "He told us he did it to help his buddies out. He got tired of being shot at. He got tired of everyone being pinned down."
Biddle was a member of VFW Post 266 but had been visiting less frequently as his health deterio-rated, Goodwin said. Goodwin said he never saw Biddle wear his medal.
Fellow post members were proud to have Biddle among their ranks.
"He was just somebody you could look up to," said Bennie Cravens, 66. "You felt proud to be a member of the same organization."
Pfc. Biddle was a scout with the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment when his unit was sent to at-tack German soldiers encircling the town of Hotton, Belgium, on Dec. 23 and 24, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge.
Biddle pushed through dense forest and used his rifle and grenades to kill more than a dozen German snipers and machine gunners, according to his award citation.
"His 20-hour action enabled his battalion to break the enemy grasp on Hotton with a minimum of casualties," the citation said.
With Biddle's death there are 86 surviving Medal of Honor recipients, including Sammy L. Davis, a Vietnam War veteran formerly of Indianapolis.
Davis, 64, said Biddle was known as "Uncle Bud" to fellow Medal of Honor recipients.
"When I grow up I want to be just like Melvin Biddle," Davis said. "He was a good man in every as-pect."
Davis had just undergone knee replacement surgery and was recuperating in a Vincennes area hospital Friday. He said he hopes doctors discharge him in time to attend Biddle's funeral.
"It's made my heart heavy," Davis said.
President Harry S. Truman gave Biddle the medal on Oct. 12, 1945. According to the Medal of Honor Society, Truman whispered to Biddle: "People don't believe me when I tell them I'd rather have one of these than be president."
Biddle is survived by his wife, Leona, and other family members. Funeral services were pending.
He told me a few humorous stories, the most interesting was about a guy who went off the path for a minute to take a crap, and was then captured by the Germans.
He said he got lots of mail with pictures to be autographed, and he always sent replies.
Hoosier Medalof Honor recipient Melvin Biddle dies
From Indystar.com
Written by Vic Ryckaert
Melvin E. Biddle, the last surviving Hoosier to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II, died Thursday at his home in Anderson.
He was 87.
Friends said Biddle, a Daleville native, was a humble man who rarely talked about the two days in 1944 when he single-handedly killed more than a dozen German soldiers.
"He didn't want to be publicized too much," said Lew Goodwin, commander of Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 266 in Anderson. "He told us he did it to help his buddies out. He got tired of being shot at. He got tired of everyone being pinned down."
Biddle was a member of VFW Post 266 but had been visiting less frequently as his health deterio-rated, Goodwin said. Goodwin said he never saw Biddle wear his medal.
Fellow post members were proud to have Biddle among their ranks.
"He was just somebody you could look up to," said Bennie Cravens, 66. "You felt proud to be a member of the same organization."
Pfc. Biddle was a scout with the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment when his unit was sent to at-tack German soldiers encircling the town of Hotton, Belgium, on Dec. 23 and 24, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge.
Biddle pushed through dense forest and used his rifle and grenades to kill more than a dozen German snipers and machine gunners, according to his award citation.
"His 20-hour action enabled his battalion to break the enemy grasp on Hotton with a minimum of casualties," the citation said.
With Biddle's death there are 86 surviving Medal of Honor recipients, including Sammy L. Davis, a Vietnam War veteran formerly of Indianapolis.
Davis, 64, said Biddle was known as "Uncle Bud" to fellow Medal of Honor recipients.
"When I grow up I want to be just like Melvin Biddle," Davis said. "He was a good man in every as-pect."
Davis had just undergone knee replacement surgery and was recuperating in a Vincennes area hospital Friday. He said he hopes doctors discharge him in time to attend Biddle's funeral.
"It's made my heart heavy," Davis said.
President Harry S. Truman gave Biddle the medal on Oct. 12, 1945. According to the Medal of Honor Society, Truman whispered to Biddle: "People don't believe me when I tell them I'd rather have one of these than be president."
Biddle is survived by his wife, Leona, and other family members. Funeral services were pending.
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