Purple Heart Recipient: Orville Marion Bittle was twice awarded our nation's highest military honor in WW II

(Editor's Note: This is the first in a new feature series on Purple Heart Recipients from both Arkansas and Oklahoma, If you know of a winner of this prestigious honor you would like to see spotlighted please contact us through DM's. email (todayinfortsmith#gmasil.com) or by calling 479-461-0126)

Orville Marion Bittle didn’t seek the spotlight, yet his courage and character illuminated every path he walked.

Born in 1921 on a farm at the end of Free Ferry Road—now Wildcat Mountain—in Fort Smith. By 1942, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army, those qualities propelled him through seven major World War II campaigns and earned him two Purple Hearts. 

On June 29, 1942, Bittle enlisted at the Fort Smith recruitment office and was inducted at Camp Robinson in Little Rock. Deployed to the European Theatre, he fought across North Africa, Sicily, and Germany, enduring three invasions, including the historic Operation Overlord.

In June 1944, while stationed in England preparing for D-Day, Bittle’s rural roots proved lifesaving. When a captain needed someone to back a truck towing a Jeep onto a landing craft, Bittle stepped up, drawing on years of farm driving experience.

Promoted on the spot to driver, he skillfully maneuvered the vehicle onto the craft and later disembarked at Omaha Beach. Moments after, the Jeep--=where he would have been seated--exploded upon landing, killing all aboard.

His quick thinking saved his life and showcased his grit. Bittle’s unit pressed through Normandy, secured the Cherbourg Peninsula, liberated Paris, and advanced into Belgium.

During the brutal Battle of the Bulge, he sustained two life-threatening injuries, earning two Purple Hearts with Oak Leaf Cluster. His additional decorations reflect his extraordinary service:

• Bronze Star Medal of Merit

• Normandy Provence Liberation Invasion Medal

• World War II Victory Medal

• Army Good Conduct Medal

• Citation for the Belgian Fourragere

• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Bronze Arrowhead

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Honorably discharged on July 4, 1945, at Fort Chaffee, Bittle returned home with profound gratitude, marveling at his survival. Back in Fort Smith, Bittle built a legacy of purpose.

For 29 years, he ran a thriving State Farm Insurance Agency while co-founding the Fort Smith Church League Baseball Program, where he built fields and coached youth teams. He served with distinction on the James Fork Regional Water District Board, earning Emeritus status, and was deeply involved in the American Legion, Gideons International, Fort Smith Exchange Club, and Scottish Rite Freemasons.

A passionate outdoorsman and lifelong Arkansas Razorbacks fan, Bittle cherished fishing, hunting, and exploring the country in a motor home with his wife, Bette.

For 41 years, Bittle served as a deacon at First Baptist Church and Rye Hill Baptist Church, earning recognition in 2016 for his devotion. As a cornerstone of the Homebound Ministry, he visited the sick and elderly multiple times weekly, embodying compassion.

His faith wasn’t just spoken--it was lived.

Orville Marion Bittle passed away in 2020 and was laid to rest at Fort Smith National Cemetery. His life--of battlefield bravery, community leadership, and unwavering faith--stands as a testament to living with honor.