Local woman finds hero in brother's uncovered World War II military record

By Heather Fawley
Frost Illustrated Intern

Gladys Wilson knew that her brother Oliver C. Mitchell had been awarded the Purple Heart as a result of his service to the U.S. military during World War II. Wilson, however, was unaware of the extent of her brother's heroism. The discovery that she made several years later left her in shock.

The Bronze Star, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal and the European- African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal were just a few of the awards that Wilson found in the cedar chest that had once belonged to her mother. Her brother, however, had never told her about the additional medals and her never discussed them around her.

"He was so quiet and he is still like that now," said Wilson, who has a love for family history and a passion for genealogy.

To Wilson, Mitchell's military record always has been and still is very unclear. Mitchell was 18-yearsold when he had been drafted into the war. He served with Company H, 365th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division of the 5th Army. The 92nd Infantry Division was known as the "Buffalo Soldiers."

He had been fighting in northern Italy when Alberta Fletcher, Wilson and Mitchell's mother, had been informed that Mitchell had been shot and killed. This, however, was not true. Mitchell had been shot in the shoulder during his fight in northern Italy-thus earning him the Purple Heart-but he had not been killed. Mitchell was later scheduled to arrive in Japan to continue his fight, but was sent home because the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought the war to an unexpected, early end.

According to Wilson, after Mitchell returned home he received a $300 monthly pension but an additional $600 was later added to his original pension amount. Whether this is because of his medals or revisions in his discharge papers is unclear, however.

The Bronze Star, a medal that Mitchell received more than once, is awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. The World War II Victory Medal is awarded to the members of the U.S. military and members of the armed forces of the Government of the Philippine Islands who served on active duty or as a reservist.

The American Campaign Medal is awarded to those who performed one year of consecutive duty within the continental borders of the U.S., or performed 30 days consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of duty outside of the borders of the U.S. but within the American Theater of Operations. The European-African- Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is awarded to those who performed in the geographical theater areas of Europe, North Africa or the Middle East

Wilson still doesn't know why Mitchell chose not to discuss the medals with her. She, however, now recognizes the extent of her brother's heroism and keeps with her the medals, discharge papers and letters as part of the family's history.

This is part of the August 15, 2007 online edition of Frost Illustrated.

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