Frank R. Mehle
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Frank R. Mehle and the Battle of the Bulge
Frank R. Mehle of Chisholm was inducted into the Army on April 26, 1943.
He was a Technician 4th Grade and a baker with the 3062nd Quartermaster Bakery Company in the 9th and 3rd Armies in the Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns.
"Late in September we traveled to a small, seemingly insignificant town known as Bastogne in Belgium. The Germans smashed into Belgium under the leadership of the crafty Von Rundstedt. The American troops were forced to withdraw. The situation became so critical on December 18 that our Company, under German tank fire, hastily loaded up its equipment and moved out of Bastogne which was bypassed and cut off by the Germans. Some of my very close comrades gave up their lives in this great Battle of the Bulge.
"Leaving Bastogne, we also became involved in the Germany counter-attack. Many Germans were dressed in American uniforms and spoke excellent English, thus enabling them to misdirect and mislead our troops. Surrounded by German tanks and being fired upon -- all roads were cut off by German armored divisions -- we somehow were able to retreat in one of the worst winters the area ever had, leaving behind all our Christmas packages....Our company was usually within five miles of the front lines during most of the war. A bakery such as ours was capable of producing ten tons of bread a day working 24-hour shifts and taking into consideration the dismantling, traveling and setting up of equipment.
"Heading back home after the war in December, 1946 we steamed right into the middle of a severe Atlantic storm. The propeller of our ship was damaged and we ended up in Newfoundland for repairs."
Mr. Mehle received the: Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Service Medal with four bronze battle stars, American Campaign Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and three overseas service bars.
He was discharged on January 7, 1946.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 202.
