Melvin O. Handrich (January 26, 1919 – August 26, 1950) was a soldier in the U.S. Army during both World War II and the Korean War. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 25 and 26, 1950, during the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter. He is buried at Little Wolf Cemetery in Manawa, Wisconsin.
Handrich first entered the Army in August 1942. He was a member of 1st Company, 2d Regiment (1-2), First Special Service Force (FSSF) ("The Devil's Brigade") and later Company I, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He participated in the recapture of Kiska, Alaska (August 15, 1943), part of the Aleutian islands Campaign, and saw action in Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany.
Wounded three times, he received the Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters. Other World War II awards included the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star. He was discharged from the Army in September 1945.
He re-enlisted in January 1949 and was sent to Far East Command in March 1949. He then fought in Korea after the North Korean invasion of South Korea. The Medal of Honor was presented to Handrich's father by General of the Army Omar Bradley at a Pentagon ceremony on June 21, 1951.
This episode is introduced by First Sergeant John David Wells, nationally syndicated radio talk show host, and is presented by Colonel Jay Seffern.
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