Morellis Beddoe

Morellis Beddoe’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

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Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal Elmer Todd (ASN: 105438), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 2d Machine-Gun Battalion, 1st Division, A.E.F., south of Soissons, France, 20 July 1918. Corporal Todd led his squad by crawling from shell hole to shell hole through heavy machine-gun fire for a distance of about 300 yards in advance of the Infantry. Selecting a position, he placed his machine gun so as to bring an enfilade fire on a section of enemy trench that was holding up the advance of the Infantry. The fire of his squad was so effective as to cause the enemy to surrender, thereby facilitating the further advance of the attacking battalion.

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Life & Service

Birth: 17 October 1891, Okfuskee County, OK, United States
Place of Residence: Tulsa, OK, United States
Race/Ethnicity: Native American
Death: 1 April 1956 Pasadena, TX, United States
Branch: Army
Military Rank: Corporal
Company: B
Infantry Regiment: 2nd Machine Gun Battalion
Division: 1st

Early Life (Includes general parent information, sibling information, education)

Morellis Beddoe (AKA Elmer Todd Beddoe, Elmer Rowe, Elmer Beddoe, Morellis Rowe Beddoe, Elmer Rowe Beddoe) was born to Philip Alonzo Beddoe (1851-1929) and his first wife, Martha Harrison (1852-?), on 17 October 1891 in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma. Beddoe had at least four full siblings, Hettie (1889-1907), Verona (1889-1960), Lonzo (1893-1970), Melvina (1896-1975), and two half siblings from his father’s second marriage to Carrie Griffin (1854-1955); Versie (1902-1992), and Selva (1904-?). There is minimal information available related to Beddoe’s early education and life. The Beddoes were members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

In the 1900s, the family lived in the Creek Nation, Indian Territory, Oklahoma, where Philip Beddoe was a farmer. By 1910, Beddoe had moved out of his parents’ home and worked as a farmer on land in Okemah, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma. On 4 February 1909, Beddoe married Gertrude Ann Sutton (1892-1925), with her, having Opal (1913-1962), and potentially Delia (1911-?). The couple divorced before 1917, Gertrude Ann Sutton remarried William Proctor (1880-?), who adopted or was the parent of one/both girls.

Military Description and Citation (Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations)

Beddoe enlisted in the U.S. Army on 6 April 1917 under the name ‘Elmer Todd’. Information related to his service is minimal, but he received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions near Soissons, France on 20 July 1918;

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal Elmer Todd (ASN: 105438), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 2d Machine-Gun Battalion, 1st Division, A.E.F., south of Soissons, France, 20 July 1918. Corporal Todd led his squad by crawling from shell hole to shell hole through heavy machine-gun fire for a distance of about 300 yards in advance of the Infantry. Selecting a position, he placed his machine gun so as to bring an enfilade fire on a section of enemy trench that was holding up the advance of the Infantry. The fire of his squad was so effective as to cause the enemy to surrender, thereby facilitating the further advance of the attacking battalion.

By the time of his Honorable Discharge on 9 June 1920, Beddoe was a Sergeant.

Later Life (Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death)

Beddoe returned to Tulsa and lived at 920 Maybelle Street with his second wife, divorcee Frances Wilma Lucas (1898-1963), and her daughter from a previous marriage Virginia Aleene Milford (1916-2003). Beddoe worked at a steel shop, producing boilers. In the 1940s, the family lived at 236 Asbury Street in Tulsa with Virginia Milford (then- Dunham) and her daughter, Carolyn (1936-1974). They may, at one point, have lived at 749 South Quanah Street, where a DSC certificate of Beddoe’s was found by new residents of the home. In the mid-1940s, the family relocated to Pasadena, Texas, living on Strawberry Lane. Beddoe worked for the Houston Shipbuilding Corporation located on Irish Bend Street in Houston. By 1950, the family lived at 308 DuPont Stree in Harris County, where Beddoe worked as a tractor operator.

Little else is known of Beddoe’s adult life and retirement, he died at Pasadena General Hospital on 1 April 1956 due to an acute myocardial infarction. Beddoe is buried at Grand View Memorial Park in Pasadena, Texas.