World War II Honoree

John Henry Mitchell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Winnfield, Louisiana

Honored By

John Henry Mitchell

Relationship

Self

WAS DRAFTED 29 JULY 1943, ENTERED THE INFANTRY IN THE WILDCAT DIVISION. TRAINED CAMP ADAIR, OREGON, CAMP BEALE AT MERRYSVILLE AND CAMP SAN LUIS OBISPO IN CALIFORNIA. JOINED THE 81ST INFANTRY AS A REPLACEMENT AND SAILED FOR FORT HASSEE, OAHU, HAWAII 8 JULY 1944. UNDERWENT JUNGLE TRAINING AND LEFT HAWAII ON 12 AUGUST 1944, CROSSED THE PACIFIC, REACHED GUADALCANAL ISLAND 24 AUGUST 1944. TRAINED THERE AND THEN ORDERED TO PROCEED TO PALAU ISLANDS AND TO INVADE AND SECURE THE ISLAND OF AUGAUR. THEN ORDERED TO THE ISLAND OF PELELIU 23 SEPTEMBER 1944. FROM 19 SEPTEMBER 1944, TO 4 JANUARY 1945 ENGAGED IN ACTIVITY IN THESE OTHER ISLANDS, ALITHI ATOLL, NGULA ATOLL, PULO ANNA ISLAND, KAYANGEL ATOLL AND FAIS ISLANDS. FROM PELELIU PROCEEDED TO LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINES WHERE OUR MISSION WAS TO ELIMINATE ENEMY RESISTANCE AND PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF THE JAPANESE MAINLAND. WHILE I WAS IN LEYTE, THE ATOMIC BOMB WAS DROPPED ON TWO JAPANESE CITIES AND THE WAR ENDED. I WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 7, 1946. SEPARATED FROM THE SERVICE AT CAMP FANNIN, TEXAS. MEDALS I RECEIVED WERE THE BRONZE STAR, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, AMERICAN THEATER CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE STARS, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE STAR, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL. MILITARY RECORDS SHOW THAT I WAS RECOMMENDED FOR THE PURPLE HEART AWARD ON 14 JUNE 1945, WHILE ON PELELIU ISLAND.