Medal of Honor: Melvin E. Biddle – World War II – Ardennes – December 1944

Name: Melvin E. Biddle
Rank: Private First Class
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company B, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Place: Near Soy and Hotton, Belgium
Entered Service At: Anderson, Indiana
Born: Daleville, Indiana

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Summary of Action

During the desperate fighting of the Ardennes campaign, Private First Class Melvin E. Biddle distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism while serving as the lead scout for an attack to relieve the enemy-encircled town of Hotton, Belgium.

On 23 December 1944, Pfc. Biddle advanced alone into a dense wooded area under intense enemy fire. Penetrating more than 400 yards ahead of his unit, he closed to within 20 yards of enemy positions and killed three German snipers with precise rifle fire. Pressing another 200 yards forward, he discovered and destroyed a hostile machine-gun position, killing both crewmen.

Continuing his relentless advance, he located a well-concealed machine-gun nest and crawled forward under fire to throw grenades that killed two enemy soldiers and mortally wounded another. Signaling his company to advance, he deliberately shifted positions under fire and killed three additional enemy troops as he penetrated a determined defensive line.

Undeterred by darkness or danger, Pfc. Biddle spent hours during the night scouting enemy positions alone. He returned with critical intelligence that enabled American infantry and armor to destroy two enemy tanks. At daybreak on 24 December, he again led the advance, and when friendly elements were pinned down, he deliberately approached a hostile machine-gun position and killed its crew and two supporting riflemen, forcing the remaining enemy to flee in panic.

Through nearly 20 continuous hours of combat, Pfc. Biddle’s aggressive initiative, fearless reconnaissance, and lethal precision broke the enemy’s hold on Hotton and enabled his battalion to achieve its mission with minimal casualties.

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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 machinegun position and dispatched its 2 occupants. He then located the approximate position of a well-concealed enemy machinegun 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 machinegun 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 machinegun 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.