Melvin E. Biddle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melvin Earl Biddle
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|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Bud |
| Born | November 28, 1923 Daleville, Indiana |
| Died | December 16, 2010 (aged 87) Anderson, Indiana |
| Place of burial |
Memorial Park Cemetery, Anderson, Indiana
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| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Rank |  Corporal |
| Unit |  1st Battalion, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War II • Battle of the Bulge |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor Purple Heart Bronze Star |
Melvin Earl "Bud" Biddle was a brave soldier in the United States Army during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor, which is the highest award for bravery a soldier can get in the U.S. military. He was born on November 28, 1923, and passed away on December 16, 2010.
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Early Life in Indiana
Melvin Biddle was born in Daleville, Indiana, on November 28, 1923. His parents were Owen J. and Blanche Olive Biddle. He grew up with two brothers, Ralph and Lee, and three sisters, Marie, Carolyn, and Eileen.
Bud Biddle lived in the same area his whole life. He went to elementary school in Daleville. Later, he graduated from Anderson High School in nearby Anderson, Indiana. Before joining the army, he worked at a company called Delco Remy in Anderson. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1943.
Heroic Actions in World War II
By December 1944, Biddle was a private first class in the army. He was serving in Europe with the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment. This group was part of the 82nd Airborne Division.
Bravery at the Battle of the Bulge
On December 23 and 24, 1944, a big battle was happening. It was called the Battle of the Bulge. It took place near a town called Soy, in Belgium. During this time, Bud Biddle showed amazing courage.
He went out alone to scout the German army's positions. While doing this, he found and stopped three enemy snipers. He also silenced four enemy machine gun nests. His brave actions helped his unit a lot.
A week later, he was hurt in the neck by a piece of metal from an explosion. Luckily, it just missed a major blood vessel. After getting better in England, he was on his way back to his unit. That's when he read in a newspaper called Stars and Stripes that he would receive the Medal of Honor.
Receiving the Medal of Honor
For his incredible bravery near Soy, Biddle was given the Medal of Honor. This special ceremony happened at the White House on October 30, 1945. President Harry Truman presented the medal to him.
When President Truman gave Biddle the medal, he whispered something. He said, "People don't believe me when I tell them that I'd rather have one of these than be President." This shows how much respect the president had for Biddle's actions.
Later, Biddle was promoted to corporal. Besides the Medal of Honor, he also received two other important awards: the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
Life After the War
After leaving the military, Bud Biddle returned home to Indiana. On December 1, 1946, he married his childhood sweetheart, Leona Elsie Allen. They had two daughters, Elissa and Marsha.
Biddle worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs. He helped other veterans get loans and benefits. He did this important work for 26 years until he retired. He also served on the Anderson City Council, helping his local community.
Bud Biddle rarely talked about his brave actions during the war. He would sometimes give interviews or attend events honoring veterans. But he mostly preferred to live a quiet life. He loved playing golf and was a member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars group.
Passing Away
Melvin Biddle passed away on December 16, 2010. He was 87 years old and died from a sudden illness. He was buried in Anderson's Memorial Park Cemetery. His family asked for his funeral to be private, without military honors, due to their personal beliefs.
His death date was exactly 66 years after the start of the Battle of the Bulge. This was the battle where he earned his Medal of Honor. Bud Biddle was the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II in Indiana.
See also
