Victor Leonard Kandle
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

First Lieutenant Victor Leonard Kandle (13 June 1921 - 31 December 1944) was a U.S. Army officer who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War II.

Victor L. Kandle was born on 13 June 1921 in Roy, WA. He joined the Army from Redwood City, CA. On 9 October 1944, he was serving as a First Lieutenant in the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. On that day near La Forge, France, he led his platoon in the capture of a German stronghold and the destruction of two machine gun emplacements. Then, with his men providing supporting fire, he attacked a fortified house and forced the Germans inside to surrender. He was killed in action two months later and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions near La Forge.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near La Forge, France, 9 October 1944.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On 9 October 1944, at about noon, near La Forge, France, 1st Lt. Kandle, while leading a reconnaissance patrol into enemy territory, engaged in a duel at pointblank range with a German field officer and killed him. Having already taken 5 enemy prisoners that morning, he led a skeleton platoon of 16 men, reinforced with a light machinegun squad, through fog and over precipitous mountain terrain to fall on the rear of a German quarry stronghold which had checked the advance of an infantry battalion for 2 days. Rushing forward, several yards ahead of his assault elements, 1st Lt. Kandle fought his way into the heart of the enemy strongpoint, and, by his boldness and audacity, forced the Germans to surrender. Harassed by machinegun fire from a position which he had bypassed in the dense fog, he moved to within 15 yards of the enemy, killed a German machine gunner with accurate rifle fire and led his men in the destruction of another machinegun crew and its rifle security elements. Finally, he led his small force against a fortified house held by 2 German officers and 30 enlisted men. After establishing a base of fire, he rushed forward alone through an open clearing in full view of the enemy, smashed through a barricaded door, and forced all 32 Germans to surrender. His intrepidity and bold leadership resulted in the capture or killing of 3 enemy officers and 54 enlisted men, the destruction of 3 enemy strongpoints, and the seizure of enemy positions which had halted a battalion attack.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart

Death and Burial

First Lieutenant Victor L. Kandle was killed in action on 31 December 1944. He is buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Épinal, Vosges, Lorraine Region, France, in Plot B, Row 14, Grave 55.