World War II Honoree

William R. Mitchell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Muskingum County, Ohio

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY FEBRUARY 25, 1942 AT CAMP PERRY, OHIO. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY, INDIA COMPANY, 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE ‘ALL AMERICAN’ DIVISION. HE WAS KILLED IN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1944 WHEN A HORRENDOUS EXPLOSION OCCURRED WHILE HE WAS UNLOADING A TRUCK LOADED WITH PARACHUTE CONTAINERS, PARAPACKS CONTAINING ANTI-TANK MINES AT THE FULBECK AIRPORT, LINCOLNSHIRE, ENGLAND. HIS DEATH WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A NON-BATTLE ‘DNB ’CASUALTY AS IT WAS NOT ATTRIBUTED TO A BATTLE. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO OHIO FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN THE GREENWOOD CEMETERY, ZANESVILLE, OHIO.