MILITARY: killed in Action: October 26, 1943, Mark A. Mitchell, Jackson County, Oregon ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ********************************************************************************* Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Elizabeth Corethers 15 April 2003 *************************************************************************** Medford (Oregon) Mail Tribune, Wednesday, 10 Jan 1945, p. 2 POSTHUMOUS HONOR FOR SGT. MITCHELL, FAMILY IS NOTIFIED Mr. E. M. Mitchell of South Pacific highway, Grant's Pass, have received word from the war department of a posthumous award of a second oak leaf cluster to the air medal, for their son, S/Sgt. Mark A. Mitchell, killed in action in southwest Pacific area October 26, 1943. The citation reads: "For meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight to * * * on 11 October 1943. Sgt. Mitchell was assistant radio operator of a B-24 which raided this enemy harbor. Disregarding possibility of anti-aircraft fire from shipping and shore batteries, the pilot descended to minimum altitude, and the crew skip-bombed an enemy vessel. Two direct hits resulted, causing the ship to burst into flames, and as the B-24 departed the fire was enveloping adjacent vessels. The courage and devotion displayed by Sgt. Mitchell on this mission are worthy of commendation." The Mitchells have received also for their son besides the two oak leaf clusters and the air medal, the purple heart, the silver star, a citation of honor signed by Gen. H. H. Arnold, and a presidential gold star citation. Sgt. Mitchell attended school in Grant's Pass and graduated from Klamath Falls Union high school in 1938. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell recently moved back to Grant's Pass from Oakland, Calif. The family is known in Medford.