World War II Honoree

Mitchell Randolph Powers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Marion, South Carolina

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

HE WAS CALLED INTO ACTIVE DUTY IN EARLY 1942 AND ASSIGNED TO THE 12TH ARMORED DIVISION, THEN BEING ACTIVATED AT CAMP CAMPBELL IN KENTUCKY. TRAINING AT CAMP CAMPBELL WAS FOLLOWED BY MANEUVERS IN TENNESSEE IN SEPTEMBER, 1943. AFTER FURTHER TRAINING AT CAMP BARKELEY IN TEXAS, THE DIVISION STAGED AT CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK AND SAILED FOR ENGLAND ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1944. FIVE WEEKS LATER THE DIVISION CROSSED THE ENGLISH CHANNEL, WAS ATTACHED TO THE 7TH ARMY, AND BEGAN A DRIVE THROUGH THE MAGINOT AND SIEGFRIED LINES, ACROSS THE RHINE, CROSSING GERMANY, THE DANUBE, THE INNS AND INTO AUSTRIA IN 151 DAYS. THEY ENGAGED IN TWO MAJOR BATTLES, CENTRAL EUROPE AND THE RHINELAND, AND WERE DEACTIVATED AT CAMP KILMER, NEW JERSEY ON DECEMBER 3, 1945. HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AS A CAPTAIN, HAVING EARNED THE BRONZE STAR AND TWO PURPLE HEARTS.