MITCHELL FAMILY LOSES TWO SONS IN WW2

REMEMBER THE FALLEN

...........................MITCHELL FAMILY LOSE TWO SONS IN WW2
...........................By Bob Lessard
...........................Historian American Legion Post 64

......(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro’s war casualties. This is intended to remember the sacrifice of all veterans and those who gave their lives in the service of our country.)

......In less than a year, the Henry G. Mitchell family received two heartbreaking military telegrams announcing the deaths of two sons, Irving and Paul.

......Born in Middleboro on June 15, 1921 Irving was the son of Henry G. and Elizabeth (Kelleher). He graduated from Middleboro’s Memorial High School class of 1939. He was prominent in high school sports and was a member of the varsity football team.

......The first telegram notified the family of Irving’s death, which occurred on August 8, 1943 due to an aircraft crash near Columbia, South Carolina. Irving, 22, was serving with the United States Army Air Force at the time.

......Sent from an air base near Florence, South Carolina, the telegram was signed by Major Kenneth Hohlays of the base. It stated, “We deeply regret to inform you of the death of your son, Irving F., in an airplane crash August 8 near Columbia, S.C.”

......Irving had enlisted in the Army Air Force as a flying cadet on February 22, 1942.
He received aviation training on many air bases including Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Alabama and Lodwick School of Aeronautics in Florida. Later, he was posted to Craig Field in Alabama, where he earned his flight wings and his officer’s commission as a Lieutenant.

......He then went to Drew Field in Florida to specialize in dive bombers. Next came the Florence base, where he trained as first pilot on the B-25 bomber. It was from this base that the bomber he was flying crashed. Three other airmen were also killed in that crash.
A requiem High Mass was celebrated at Sacred Heart church with internment at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
..............................SECOND SON PERISHES

......It was in late June, 1944 that the Mitchells learned by another military telegram of the loss of son Paul, who was killed in action on June 20, 1944.

......The second telegram posted with the date June 29, 1944 and over the signature of Lt. General A. A. Vandergrift, commandant of the United States Marine Corps. It read in part, “Deeply regret to inform you that your son, Corporal Paul C. Mitchell, United States Marine Corps, was killed in action in the performance of his duty and service of country…”

......It was not immediately known where Paul was killed as his parents weren’t officially informed. It was known that he was fighting in the South Pacific in the Marshall Islands.
Paul went to school in the Waterville section of Middleboro with Vernon Porter, who was killed in action on June 20, 1944 in Italy on Anzio Beach on the same day as Paul lost his life. .
(Gazette readers will note that Vernon Porter was highlighted in this column in the January 12, 2017 edition.)

......He had graduated from Memorial High School with the class of 1941. He was a high school baseball and football player. He later played on the Varsity football club. Prior to joining the service, he was employed at the Charles P. Washburn Company.

......Corporal Paul Mitchell attended boot camp at Parris Island and then was assigned to the Signal Corps. He received additional training in Philadelphia and Camp Pendleton, where he was transferred from the Signal Corps to a combat unit.

......He and Irving were survived by their parents, Henry G. and Elizabeth Mitchell; three brothers, Private Henry G., serving in the United States Army; Arthur F., a senior at Memorial High School; and, Donald E., freshman at MHS. Also, three surviving sisters: Mrs. Henry Woronicz, and. Kathryn and Betty, who are living at home.

......The Mitchell brothers are remembered in Middleboro by the Mitchell Memorial Club, 29 Elm Street, which was founded in their memory in 1949. Several large glass memorial panels located in the banquet/function room inform visitors about the two brothers.

......Mertie E. Romaine’s “History of the Town of Middleboro 1905-1965” lists the brothers on the World War 2 pages. In addition, Irving and Paul are remembered by a bronze street sign at the corner of Rock and Mitchell Streets plus a stone with a bronze plaque on Elm Street.
Irving and Paul’s names can also be found on the Central Casualty stone in the Middleboro Veterans Memorial Park.