Click On Image
For Full Size Image |
Size |
Image Description |
Contributed
By |
USS William P. Biddle (AP-15)
|
 |
103k |
NamesakeWilliam Phillips Biddle—born in Philadelphia, Pa., on 17 December 1853—was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 22 June 1875. After sea duty in Hartford and Powhatan, he served at the Marine Barracks at Philadelphia and New York before he returned to sea duty in Kearsarge in 1882. Promoted to 1st lieutenant two years later and to captain in 1894, Biddle served in the cruiser Baltimore in June 1895 and shortly afterwards was transferred to the cruiser Olympia, in which he served during the Spanish-American War, and took part in the Battle of Manila Bay in April 1898. He later commanded the marines ashore in the Philippines who had secured the Cavite Navy Yard and established outposts covering the approaches to Manila. Biddle next served in Marine expeditionary forces in the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 and in pacification operations during the Philippine Insurrection from 1901 to 1903 before he returned to the United States for duty at Headquarters, Marine Corps. Promoted to lieutenant colonel on 23 March 1903, Biddle commanded a reinforcing battalion of marines embarked in the auxiliary cruiser Dixie sent to Panama when a revolution broke out there in November 1903. The ship arrived just in time to participate in the celebrations honoring the independence of that country from Colombia. Later promoted to colonel in 1905, Biddle was chosen commandant of the Marine Corps on 3 February 1911 and served in that post until his retirement on 24 February 1914 with the rank of major general. During his tenure, Biddle emphasized training and established recruit depots at Philadelphia; Port Royal, S.C.; Mare Island, Calif.; and Puget Sound, Wash. Recalled to active duty during World War I, Biddle served primarily on court-martial duty at San Diego before returning to private life after a second retirement. On 24 February 1923—exactly nine years after his initial retirement, Biddle died at Nice, France. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Photo from the USMC Historical Division
| Bill Gonyo |
 |
91k |
From left to right USS William P. Biddle (AP-15), USS Heywood (AP-12), and USS Harry Lee (AP-17) underway in convoy to Iceland, circa 7 September 1941.
US Navy photo # NH 47005, from the collection of US Naval Historical Center. |
US Naval Historical Center |
USS William P. Biddle (APA-8)
|
 |
24k |
USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) underway, date and location unknown.
| Hyperwar US Navy in WWII |
 |
86k |
William P. Biddle (APA-8) off Mindoro, Philippine Islands, in February 1945, during the later stages of the campaign there. USS Heywood (APA-6) is in the right center background, beyond USS William P. Biddle's bow. Both ships wear camouflage Measure 32, Design 9T.
US National Archives photo 80-G-325409, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
| Scott at LBS Products |
