Thomas J. Mitchell, casualty of World War II

Tom and Lizzie Lee

Photo of Tom Mitchell, 1942, taken during basic training at Camp Adair in Oregon

Thomas J. Mitchell was 27 years old when he was killed on the island of Okinawa in 1945. A yellowed clipping from the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper indicates that Sergeant Mitchell was killed during combat on April 6, 1945 in Okinawa, having fought and survived in the Battle of Philippines in 1944. He was a tank fighter. Tom was the husband of my great-aunt, Lizzie Lee Davis, and the son of Charles L. and Annie Mitchell. Tom and Lizzie Lee had one son, James Charles Mitchell, who makes his home in Itawamba County.

The publication Itawamba's Fighting Men indicates that Tom was killed by Japanese machine fire and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for his service.