Bill Siddons honored for 60-year membership in American Legion Post 129
Former U.S. Army staff sergeant and retired banker William H. "Bill" Siddons received a 60-year membership certificate Monday for his six decades of continuous membership in Hillsboro American Legion Post 129.
Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings presented the certificate to Mr. Siddons Monday morning, with Veterans Services Director Robin Brown and Veterans Service Commission board member Joe Thompson in attendance.
Mr. Siddons served in the 14th Infantry for 21 months from 1951-53 during the Korean War.
His regiment served in the key battleground area north of the 38th parallel in the region known as the Iron Triangle.
The Iron Triangle was a North Korean – and communist Chinese – concentration area, located in between Chorwon and Kumwha in the south and Pyonggang in the north.
During the Korean War, the area was the scene of heavy fighting and included the Battle of White Horse, the Battle of Triangle Hill and the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. To the eastern battle area was Heartbreak Ridge, where Mr. Siddons also served.
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"The winter of '52 it was 30 degrees below zero," Mr. Siddons said. "I actually liked the cold because nothing could move (including enemy forces.)"
Mr. Siddons entered the service in 1951 and served until 1953, earning the rank of staff sergeant for the 14th Infantry.
Following his military service, Mr. Siddons returned to the banking profession, where he served as president of Farmers and Traders National Bank, which is now US Bank in uptown Hillsboro.
He retired in 1996.
The Post 129 certificate recognizes Mr. Siddons "in grateful appreciation for faithful and dedicated allegiance to the ideals of the American Legion. Such record of consistent loyalty to the American Legion merits the honor of being cited as an outstanding contributor to the programs of the American Legion."