Theodore Chester Biel

Theodore Chester Biel, retired U.S. Army Colonel, died of prostate cancer on September 29, 2009 at the age of 86. When World War II broke out, he quickly joined the Army Air Corps and trained in flying biplanes with an open cockpit. He was selected to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1947 and joined the Cavalry Corps.Then, in SHAPE Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium, he served as an aide to and was befriended by General "Buck" Lanham, who was a combat hero and close friend and exchanged letters for seventeen years with Ernest Hemingway. General Lanham's troops landed at Normandy and were among the first to reach Paris, then Germany, and penetrated the Siegfried Line, holding their ground at the Battle of the Bulge. Ernest Hemingway's portrayal of the protagonist in his book, "Across the River and Into the Trees", was based on Lanham's courage, "grace-under-pressure", and luck. Theodore C. Biel served as Community Commander for American forces in Stuttgart, Germany and made speeches at festivals to promote German-American friendship and German-American friendship clubs. Having obtained his Master's degree in nuclear physics and mathematics at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, Theodore C. Biel taught mathematics at West Point for nine years. Over his thirty-two years in the Army, he also served in Vietnam, France, and numerous Army posts in the U.S. After his dedicated military service, "Ted" and his wife, Vaike moved to Florida where he continued teaching at Daytona State College, Seabreeze High School, Spruce Creek High School, Silver Sands Middle School, and at the Volusia Regional Juvenile Detention Center. For many years, Theodore C. Biel sponsored the "Vaike M. Biel Physics Award" for excellence in high school physics, and in honor of Estonia, where his wife was from. Theodore C. Biel is survived by a son, Theodore John Biel; and a daughter, Christina Katherine Biel (Mauro). He will be deeply missed. For a personal online condolence, or to sign the guest book, please go to www.cfandcs.com.