Charles F. Mitchell was born on December 2, 1924, in Illinois, his father, Lithgow, was 33 and his mother, Florence, was 26. He had one brother James and a sister Linn. In Rye his family lived at
350 Grace Church St. and were members of Christ's Church. Charles was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1943.
He was an outstanding student and his particular forte was music. Charles enlisted in December 1942 while still in high school and took an accelerated course to graduate in January 1943. He was inducted into U.S. Army February 19, 1943. Three weeks later he was in uniform and trained at Camp McCain, MS and Fort Jackson, SC.
Charles was assigned to the, 87th Infantry Division, 346 Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, HQ Co. On Jan. 27, 1945: With battles in the Saar, the Belgian Ardennes and Luxembourg behind them, 87th doughs poised for a new battle, a fight that would test the mettle of every man. From Third Army and VIII Corps came the order: Drive the enemy from Belgium and crack the Siegfried Line.
First to shove off in the new sector between Houffalize and St. Vith was Charles 346th Infantry Regiment, which quickly overran Thommen and Grufflange. Three days later, the entire division was under way, moving east through deep snow and mountain forests.
The Pace setter once again was the 346th Infantry Regiment, commanded by Lt. Col. Donald C. Clayman, Rochester Junction N. Y. , which executed an end run to capture German supply bases at Schonberg and Andler.
 These were two of the last remaining towns before the Siegfried Line. By Feb. 4, Charless 346 Infantry Regiment probed the outer fringe of the Line, partially hidden by the snow-cloaked forests. The defenses loomed ominously in the light of pyrotechnic bursts laid down by American artillary.
Charles Folds Mitchell wrote this letter on February 3, 1945 and two days later his death was reported.
"As of this date, the Russians are within thirty-five miles of Berlin, he wrote, and we are steadily pushing on ourselves. With the possible exception of a counter-attack against the Russians, the Jerries are all washed up and they know it. Lets hope that this half of this worldwide mess will be over very soon."
Corporal Charles F. Mitchell was killed on February 5, 1945 as his regiment advanced before Germany's Western Wall.
COMMENDATIONS
★ World War II Victory Medal★ Purple Heart★ Combat Infantryman Badge★ Marksmanship Badge★ American Campaign Medal★ Army Presidential Unit Citation★
Army Good Conduct Medal★ European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign
Cpl. Chas. Mitchell Graduates Tomorrow at Edgewood Arsenal
EDGEWOOD ARSENAL, MD. Graduation exercises of the Noncommissioned Officers Staff Course will be held here at the Arsenal tomorrow. The course is designed to qualify enlisted men of the Coast Guard to fulfill the duties of Noncommissioned Officers in Coast Guard chemical sections. The studies ranged from offensive and defensive tactics of gas warfare to prevention and treatment of gas casualties. Among the noncommissioned officers who will graduate is Cpl. Charles F. Mitchell, 350 Grace Church Street. His civilian occupation is listed as student and musician at Rye High
School.
PAGE TEN THE RYE CHRONICLE Friday, August 18, 1944
Corporal Charles F. Mitchell Killed Two Days After Writing Parents
A few days after receiving a letter from their son, stating it is ironical that man, natures supposedly most intelligent animal, should devote so much time to killing each other and covering the earth with devastation, Mr. and Mrs. Ldthgow Mitchell, of Grace Church Street, learned that he had been killed in Germany. Corporal Charles Folds Mitchell wrote this letter on February 3 and two days later his death was reported. As of this date, the Russians are within thirty-five miles of Berlin, he wrote, and we are steadily pushing on ourselves. With the possible exception of a counter-attack against the Russians, the Jerries are all washed up and they know it. Lets hope that this half of this worldwide mess will be over very soon. Born at Lake Forest, IL, on December 2, 1924, the twenty-one year old soldier enlisted in the Army in December, 1942, and was inducted into service on February 19, 1943. A student at Rye High School at the time he enlisted, he completed the exhilarated course and was graduated on January 30. Three weeks later he was in uniform and trained at Camp McCain, Miss. , and Fort Jackson, S. C. He went overseas in October, 1944, with the Third Army in Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 346th Infantry, 87th Division. An outstanding student, Corporal Mitchells particular forte was music and he won the High School Dads Club music award in 1943. He was a member of the General Organization Council. Before going to Rye High School, he attended Exeter Academy. Besides his parents, he is survived by a brother, James, a high school student, and a sister, Linn, who attends Chatham Hall School, Va.
RYE, NEW YORK FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1945
Comments
Dont know what to put here.
Review by TS Harvey on Mar 15, 2013
This is strictly hearsay; heard it from James Collison, RHS 47, who later was a USAF pilot of tankers and as such had to learn all about every plane he might refueld, so he was an accomplished pilot. Maybe CIA, but he was a free lance reporter who would take an assignment anywhere, charter a plane, hire a couple of body-guards, a photographer, and ocally check in with US diplomats, get an interpreter and taxi driver to cover whatever story he was after.
Jim heard this story of Charley Mitchell while in RHS, where he was Drum Major for the band . . . . . . big guy, handled it well. Mitchells outfit, the 87th Div where he was with H>Q had just taken a hill and the Germans were preparing a counter-attack . . . . . Charley is alleged to have ordered the other men with him off the hill, took charge of the machine gun and gave the others time to clear the hill as he took the brunt of the attack, killed in the process and the Yanks retook the hill the next day. . . . and, buried Charley. I dont know how you can verify this story.
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