Frank Nicias Mitchell (1921 - 1950)

Biography

Mitchell’s Service Awards.

First Lieutenant Mitchell was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On November 26, 1950 near Hansan-ni, North Korea, when his platoon came under enemy fire, he reacted by assaulting the enemy position and organizing his platoon to attack and drive the enemy from its position. Although wounded, he assisted in the evacuation of his wounded comrades, then singlehandedly held off the enemy until mortally wounded. For his leadership and great valor, First Lieutenant Mitchell was awarded the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.

Medal of Honor

• RANK: FIRST LIEUTENANT
• CONFLICT/ERA: KOREAN WAR
• UNIT/COMMAND: COMPANY A, 1ST BATTALION, 7TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE DIVISION (REIN)
• MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. MARINE CORPS
• MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: NOVEMBER 26, 1950
• MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION PLACE: NEAR HANSAN-NI, KOREA

CITATION For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader of a rifle platoon of Company A, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Leading his platoon in point position during a patrol by his company through a thickly wooded and snow-covered area in the vicinity of Hansan-ni, 1st Lt. Mitchell acted immediately when the enemy suddenly opened fire at point-blank range, pinning down his forward elements and inflicting numerous casualties in his ranks. Boldly dashing to the front under blistering fire from automatic weapons and small arms, he seized an automatic rifle from one of the wounded men and effectively trained it against the attackers and, when his ammunition was expended, picked up and hurled grenades with deadly accuracy, at the same time directing and encouraging his men in driving the outnumbering enemy from his position. Maneuvering to set up a defense when the enemy furiously counterattacked to the front and left flank, 1st Lt. Mitchell, despite wounds sustained early in the action, reorganized his platoon under the devastating fire and spearheaded a fierce hand-to-hand struggle to repulse the onslaught. Asking for volunteers to assist in searching for and evacuating the wounded, he personally led a party of litter bearers through the hostile lines in growing darkness and, although suffering intense pain from multiple wounds, stormed ahead and waged a singlehanded battle against the enemy, successfully covering the withdrawal of his men before he was fatally struck down by a burst of small-arms fire. Stouthearted and indomitable in the face of tremendous odds, 1st Lt. Mitchell, by his fortitude, great personal valor, and extraordinary heroism, saved the lives of several marines and inflicted heavy casualties among the aggressors. His unyielding courage throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.^[1]

^[2]

Medal of Honor Recipients, State of Texas, United States of America^[3][4]

Sources

1. ↑ Congressional Medal of Honor Society retrieved 26 Dec 2022
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. WWI, WWII, and Korean War Casualty Listings [database on-line. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005. ]
3. ↑ Texas State Cemetery website MOH listing
4. ↑ U.S. Army Center for Military History website

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/HFFG-G6Z : accessed 30 April 2017), Frank N Mitchell in household of Judson D Mitchell, Precinct 4, Motley, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 6, sheet 9A, line 44, family 173, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2378; FHL microfilm 2,342,112.

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Judson D Mitchell Head M 35 Texas

Isabel J Mitchell Wife F 35 Texas

J Doyle Mitchell Son M 13 Texas

Rosalind J Mitchell Daughter F 10 Texas

Frank N Mitchell Son M 8 Texas

Marion A Mitchell Daughter F 3 Texas

• Medal of Honor Recipients, State of Texas, United States of America Texas State Cemetery website MOH listing. U.S. Army Center for Military History website

• "United States Korean War Battle Deaths, 1950-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXCS-CY1 : 12 December 2014), Frank Nicias Mitchell, 26 Nov 1950; citing Korea, service number 048132, reference 3098, Records of Military Personnel Who Died as a Result of Hostilities During the Korean War, compiled ca 1977-11/1979, documenting the period 01/01/1950-02/07/1957, NARA NAID 571686, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

• Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_N._Mitchell

• Find A Grave: Memorial #7855877