World War II Honoree

Mac Frank Mittasch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Noble County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, IN AUSTRALIA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, AND IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WITH THE 813TH MILITARY POLICE COMPANY DURING THE WAR. HIS COMPANY ARRIVED IN AUSTRALIA IN APRIL, 1942 AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING SECURITY FOR GENERAL MACARTHUR'S HEADQUARTERS AS WELL AS PERSONAL SECURITY FOR GENERAL MACARTHUR'S FAMILY AND THE HEADQUARTERS GENERAL STAFF IN MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. MOVED TO BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA IN OCTOBER, 1942. SAILED TO PAPUA AND WAS STATIONED AT MILNE BAY AS PART OF A COMPOSITE MILITARY POLICE BATTALION. HIS COMPANY PARTICIPATED IN THE PAPUA, NEW GUINEA, AND LUZON CAMPAIGNS. AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES, THE COMPANY SERVED WITH ARMY OCCUPATION FORCES IN JAPAN BEGINNING ABOUT SEPTEMBER 8, 1945. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (3 CAMPAIGNS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘JAPAN’ CLASP. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS COMPANY DURING THE PAPUAN CAMPAIGN. AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR SERVICE BY HIS UNIT IN THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 17, 1944 TO JULY 4, 1945. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.