World War One

Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved

Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved

Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved
United States Army Corporal William Kerlin Mitchell was born on December 6, 1890, in Trenton, New Jersey, at a time when the city's mills and factories defined both its skyline and its people. Like many young men of Trenton, he grew up in the shadow of industry. By adulthood, he was employed as a clerk for Roebling's Sons Company, one of the city's most prominent manufacturers, known worldwide for its wire rope and steel products. When the United States entered the Great War in the spring of 1917, Mitchell answered the nation's call. On June 5, 1917, he signed his draft registration while still working at Roebling's. A few months later, on September 21, 1917, he formally enlisted as a Private in the U. He was among the first local men to be mustered into service, part of the wave of volunteers and draftees who would form the core of the American Expeditionary Forces. Mitchell trained at Camp Dix, New Jersey, preparing for a war unlike any the world had known.

Soon after, he sailed for France with the 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division, "The Big Red One" the first American division to arrive in France and among the first to see sustained combat. In the trenches of the Ansauville Sector from January 15 to April 3, 1918, Mitchell experienced the grim realities of modern warfare: mud-filled trenches, relentless artillery, and the constant threat of attack. By the spring, he had been promoted to Corporal, a noncommissioned officer entrusted with leading men in battle. From April 25 to June 8, 1918, the 18th Infantry held the Cantigny Sector.

The fighting intensified as German forces launched massive offensives in an attempt to break the Allied lines before American power could fully mobilize. Mitchell and his regiment were then thrown into the Montdidier-Noyon defensive from June 9 to June 13, followed by a return to the Cantigny Sector from June 14 to July 7. The pace was relentless; rest was brief and uncertain. The defining moment came during the Aisne-Marne Offensive, also known as the Soissons Offensive, from July 18 to July 23, 1918. This pivotal Allied counterattack shattered the German-held Marne salient and marked a decisive turning point in the war.

Corporal Mitchell and the 18th Infantry advanced under intense fire between July 18 and July 22. For their valor and effectiveness in action, the regiment was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government-an enduring symbol of Allied gratitude and respect. The campaign did not end there. Mitchell served in the Saizerais Sector from August 7 to August 24, and then participated in the St.

Mihiel Offensive on September 12-13, the first major American-led offensive of the war. Shortly thereafter came the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, from September 26 until the Armistice on November 11, 1918-the largest operation in American military history to that point. Through it all, Corporal Mitchell remained with his regiment until the guns finally fell silent.

After months of occupation duty and demobilization, Mitchell sailed home from Brest, France, aboard the U. He arrived at Hoboken, New Jersey, on September 3, 1919. On September 26, 1919, he received an honorable discharge, closing a chapter defined by hardship, sacrifice, and service.

He marched once more-this time not into battle, but in triumph-participating in the victory parade in New York City led by General John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces. When the Second World War engulfed the globe, he again registered for the draft on April 27, 1942, demonstrating that even in middle age, his sense of duty endured.

William Kerlin Mitchell passed away on May 13, 1949, at the age of 58. His life traced the arc of a generation: from industrial America at the turn of the century, through the crucible of World War I, and into the uncertain decades that followed.

Corporal Mitchell's story stands as a testament to quiet resolve, steadfast service, and enduring patriotism. I will include 19full size color printed copies of the research presented.

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Named Wwi French Croix De Guerra Medal Us Army Cpl. William K. Mitchell Engraved