World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award posthumously (presented to his widow) from US Army Major General Henry C. Pratt at the Presidio of San Francisco, California on June 4, 1945 for his actions as a 1st lieutenant with the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, US Army, on October 9, 1944, near La Forge, France. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the US Army as a private and in 1943 he attended Officers Candidate School and graduated with a commission as a 2nd lieutenant, and was sent to the European Theater of Operations where he saw action in the invasion of southern France. On that day, 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 two months later by a German grenade. He was also awarded the Silver Star and the Purple heart. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "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 machinegunner 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."

World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award posthumously (presented to his widow) from US Army Major General Henry C. Pratt at the Presidio of San Francisco, California on June 4, 1945 for his actions as a 1st lieutenant with the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, US Army, on October 9, 1944, near La Forge, France. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the US Army as a private and in 1943 he attended Officers Candidate School and graduated with a commission as a 2nd lieutenant, and was sent to the European Theater of Operations where he saw action in the invasion of southern France. On that day, 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 two months later by a German grenade. He was also awarded the Silver Star and the Purple heart. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "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 machinegunner 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."

Bio by: William Bjornstad