John Mitchell

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Sergeant John Mitchell, United States Army, for gallantry in engagement with Indians at Upper Washita River, Texas, from 9 to 11 September 1874.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John Mitchell, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Beaumont, France, May 27, 1918. Seeing three enemy planes flying east over Apremont at 2,500 meters, Captain Mitchell unhesitatingly attacked the three machines, which were in close formation, despite the fact that a fourth, hovering above, threatened to close in and join the enemy formation. He succeeded in shooting down the enemy machine, which proved to be a biplane returning from an important mission.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John Mitchell, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer of Company A, 1st Battalion, 342d Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 26 April 1945, in Germany. During an assault crossing of the Danube River near Ingolstadt, Germany, Captain Mitchell on two occasions fearlessly exposed himself to intense hostile artillery, mortar and automatic weapons fire to make a reconnaissance of the crossing site and then courageously took a place in the leading assault boat during the actual crossing. When the company was pinned down by withering enemy machine gun fire as they landed on the far shore, he gallantly moved to the front of his troops and led them in an aggressive charge that silenced the enemy guns. Captain Mitchell’s heroic leadership and unflinching devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 86th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.