[6] His high class ranking earned him a second lieutenant's commission in the first choice of most top graduates, the Corps of Engineers.

Subsequently, he was in charge of river and harbor work in San Francisco from 1907 to 1911 and then served as an observer with the Austro-Hungarian Army on the Eastern Front from November 1914 to June 1915.

[12] The citation for his Army DSM reads: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General John Biddle, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I.

In command of American troops in England, by his tact and diplomacy in handling intricate problems, General Biddle made possible the successful transshipment of many thousands of men to France.

To his executive ability and efficient handling, control, and dispatch of casual troops through England is largely due.