Oliver Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Oliver Mitchell was born March 14, 1917 at Los Angeles, California
. He was the son of Nicholas D. Mitchell and Margaret Ruth Green of Los Angeles. He was an aviator
in the United States Marine Corps
who was killed in action
during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. He would later have a United States Navy
destroyer
named in his honor.
September 3, 1941. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Reserves on March 14, 1942, was assigned to combat duty in the Solomons the following July.
destroyers off Ramos Island
, August 28, 1942. Lieutenant Mitchell was posthumously awarded the Silver Star
for:
was named in his honor. She was laid down January 3, 1944 by the Brown Shipbuilding Company
, Houston, Texas
; launched February 8, 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Margaret R. Mitchell, mother of 2nd Lt. Oliver Mitchell; and commissioned June 14, 1944, with Lieutenant Commander Kenneth J. Barclay in command.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He was the son of Nicholas D. Mitchell and Margaret Ruth Green of Los Angeles. He was an aviator
United States Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
who was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. He would later have a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
named in his honor.
Marine Corps career
Mitchell enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on May 23, 1941 and was appointed Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Naval ReserveUnited States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
September 3, 1941. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Reserves on March 14, 1942, was assigned to combat duty in the Solomons the following July.
Awarded the Silver Star
He was killed in action while engaging JapaneseEmpire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
destroyers off Ramos Island
Ramos Island
Ramos Island is an island in the Solomon Islands; it is located in Isabel Province....
, August 28, 1942. Lieutenant Mitchell was posthumously awarded the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
for:
- “Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a pilot while pressing home his attack in the face of tremendous anti-aircraft fire. His aggressive fighting spirit and heroic devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
Namesake
USS Oliver Mitchell (DE–417)USS Oliver Mitchell (DE-417)
USS Oliver Mitchell was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket...
was named in his honor. She was laid down January 3, 1944 by the Brown Shipbuilding Company
Brown Shipbuilding
The Brown Shipbuilding Company was founded in Houston, Texas in 1942 as a subsidiary of Brown and Root by brothers Herman and George R. Brown to build ships for the US Navy during World War II....
, Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
; launched February 8, 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Margaret R. Mitchell, mother of 2nd Lt. Oliver Mitchell; and commissioned June 14, 1944, with Lieutenant Commander Kenneth J. Barclay in command.
See also
- Cactus Air ForceCactus Air ForceCactus Air Force refers to the ensemble of Allied air power assigned to the island of Guadalcanal from August 1942 until December 1942 during the early stages of the Guadalcanal Campaign, particularly those operating from Henderson Field...
- United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
- Naval AviationNaval aviationNaval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...