| Frederick Biel | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 January 1909 |
| Died | 15 June 1990 |
| Nativity | Austria |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Awards | American Campaign Medal |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 32526380 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Rank at Ritchie | Technician Fourth Grade |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 14 (2 December 1943 – 31 January 1944) |
| Section | 7B |
| Enlisted | New York City, New York |
| Specialty | Military Intelligence Officer; military interpreter |
| Team | MII 457-G |
|
|
|
| American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars | World War II Victory Medal |
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Frederick Biel (15 January 1909 – 15 June 1990) was a Ritchie Boy (from Austria; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 14.
Biography
His Camp Ritchie certificate identifies him as a technician fourth grade.
Biel's Separation Qualification Record shows that he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. It describes him as a Military Intelligence Officer with MII Team 457, responsible for supervising military interpreters and coordinating the collection of intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel. The record also says that he handled counterintelligence and military security in districts of Holland, Belgium, and Germany, and helped coordinate civilian administration for the military government in several German districts. These duties amounted to 13 months overseas.
The record lists active service from 25 March 1945 to 5 May 1946, with separation at Fort Dix, New Jersey. It identifies his grade at separation as second lieutenant and his military occupational specialty as Military Intelligence Officer (9300). Before his officer service, he served as an enlisted man from October 1942 to March 1945 and attained the grade of master sergeant. His documented military education included an eight-week Military Intelligence Course in 1944.
The same record lists a one-year business-college certificate from Vienna, Austria, with business administration as his major, and civilian work as a production manager in New York City from 1941 to 1942. His decorations and battle credits included the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and stars for the Rhineland, Normandy, Central Europe, and Northern France campaigns.
Research notes
- OCR (100%) of `5781899001831973.jpg` (CAMP RITCHIE, MILITARY INTELLIGENCE TRAINING CENTER, Camp Ritchie)
Gallery
-
War Department identification card, front. -
War Department identification card, reverse. -
Certificate authorizing Frederick Biel to retain captured enemy equipment. -
Separation Qualification Record: service dates, grade, specialty, and military occupational summary. -
Separation Qualification Record: military education, civilian education and occupation, decorations, battle stars, and prior enlisted service. -
Commendation from XIII Corps headquarters, dated 9 April 1945. -
Continuation of XIII Corps commendation. -
Recommendation for promotion from second lieutenant to first lieutenant, dated 15 August 1945. -
MII 457G memorandum listing arrests, dated 27 June 1945, page 1. -
MII 457G memorandum listing arrests, dated 27 June 1945, page 2. -
MII 457G memorandum listing arrests, dated 27 June 1945, page 3. -
Photograph of Frederick Biel in uniform. -
Camp Ritchie certificate: Frederick Biel completed the 14th class at the Military Intelligence Training Center, dated 31 January 1944.
Technical record
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 81 |
| Nara ASN | 32526380 |
| Nara Name | BIEL FREDERICK |
| Nara State | 23 |
| Nara County | 61 |
| Nara POE | 2364 |
| Nara DOE | 121042 |
| Nara Grade Alpha | PVT |
| Nara Grade Code | 8 |
| Nara Branch Alpha | BI |
| Nara Branch Code | 0 |
| Branch | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| Nara Term or Enlistment | 5 |
| Term of enlistment | Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law |
| Defer. Date | 0 |
| Nara Source | 0 |
| Nara Nativity | N4 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 9 |
| Nara Race | J |
| Nara Race Description | White not yet a citizen |
| Nara Education | 5 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 97 |
| Nara Marital Status | 9 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 65 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 172 |
| Class_ASN | 32526380 |
| Class_Name | BIEL, Frederick |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Sources
- Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
- Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
- NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
- 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-10-18 (1 post)
- Camp Ritchie certificate: Frederick Biel completed the 14th class at the Military Intelligence Training Center, dated 31 January 1944.
- War Department identification card, front.
- War Department identification card, reverse.
- Certificate authorizing Frederick Biel to retain captured enemy equipment.
- Separation Qualification Record: service dates, grade, specialty, and military occupational summary.
- Separation Qualification Record: military education, civilian education and occupation, decorations, battle stars, and prior enlisted service.
- Commendation from XIII Corps headquarters, dated 9 April 1945.
- Continuation of XIII Corps commendation.
- Recommendation for promotion from second lieutenant to first lieutenant, dated 15 August 1945.
- MII 457G memorandum listing arrests, dated 27 June 1945, page 1.
- MII 457G memorandum listing arrests, dated 27 June 1945, page 2.
- MII 457G memorandum listing arrests, dated 27 June 1945, page 3.
- Photograph of Frederick Biel in uniform.