World War II Honoree

William F. Mitchell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Wise County, Virginia

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 2ND LIEUTENANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY FEBRUARY 20, 1942 AT RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. SERVED IN EUROPE WITH THE A-COMPANY, 10TH ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION, 4TH ARMORED ‘BREAKTHROUGH’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1944 AFTER HIS UNIT HAD REACHED THE MAGINOT LINE AND DURING THE ASSAULT ON BAERENDORF, GERMANY ‘LORRAINE CAMPAIGN’. HE WAS INTERRED IN THE LIMEY BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY LOCATED AT TOUL, FRANCE AND AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY SEPTEMBER 23, 1948, WITH INTERMENT IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: HE WAS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY, THE SILVER STAR FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN COMBAT AGAINST AN ENEMY FORCE AND THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.