Charles Kenneth Mitchell

A true American Hero has finally received his wings when he took his last earthly breath, after a life filled with trials, sacrifices and heroic efforts in defending the freedoms that we, as citizens of The United States of America continue to enjoy because he cared.   Charles Mitchell died Wednesday, September 27, 2017, at Solterra Senior Living in Lakeside, Arizona following a lengthy illness.  He was 94 years old.  Chuck, as he was known, he was born on May 2, 1923, in Hanna, Chavalier County, North Dakota to his parents, the late Raymond David and Anna (Klenworth) Mitchell. "Chuck Mitchell fought much of World War II on one ship, a ship that almost didn't leave port. Mitchell, was stationed on the USS Honolulu during the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. The ship took minimal damage and went off to the Pacific Theater during World War II. Even now, more than 65 years later and a Show Low resident, his memories are still prevalent. It's a legacy he does not mind holding onto, as one surviving soldier of an ever-dwindling group. "There were 97,000 (survivors) to start there," he said. The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association estimated there were less than 3,000 remaining survivors as of the attack's 75th anniversary. Mitchell was 17 years old on the day of the attack. He had been assigned to the ship two weeks before the attack. At that time, the Honolulu was known as the ship that delivered $20 million in gold to New York from England in 1937 after a shakedown cruise. Mitchell was working below the deck of the Honolulu as a powder man when the Japanese made their surprise attack. A bomb nearly missed the hull and trapped Mitchell where he was working. "The bomb went through the dock," he said. "The water was up to my knee. It was two hours before I got out." The damage to the Honolulu was repaired and the ship was able to sail again. According to the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), the Honolulu ran escort missions starting in January 1942 before being sent to strengthen America's position in the Alaskan peninsula against an advancing Japanese fleet in May. Mitchell had originally entered the Navy on a three-year minority cruise. However, when the cruise ended, he elected to stay and fight. Mitchell took part in 12 sea battles on the Honolulu, including the Battle of Tassafaronga in November 1942. The battle occurred when the Honolulu intercepted an enemy convoy seeking to reinforce Japanese units at Guadalcanal. In that battle, Mitchell hurt his back. The Honolulu engaged in many more missions, before being torpedoed at the Philippine Islands on October 1944. It was the last World War II mission the Honolulu would take part in. Afterwards, according to DANFS, the Honolulu received eight battle stars for its service. With the Honolulu out of service, Mitchell was transferred to the USS Adams, a destroyer that was built from salvaged ship pieces. Mitchell was on the ship for the last year of the war, including a dangerous mission at Okinawa in the southern part of Japan. The Adams was to be sent on a minesweeping mission at Okinawa to prepare for a mainland invasion. Mitchell said that nine men turned down the mission, but he had seen plenty of fighting up to that point and he did not mind another battle. "I didn't give a damn if I died or not," he said. The ship arrived March 1945 off of Okinawa to begin its mission. Mitchell said the ship was fitted with decoy mines, to distract the enemy from their true purpose. "They wanted the Japanese to think we were laying mines in their field," he said. However, it did not take long for the Japanese to realize what the Adams was doing, and the battle began in earnest. The Adams took two kamikaze suicide planes and was left without a rudder. After the battle ended, Mitchell said the Adams was the only ship to come back from Okinawa and had to be steered with the controls for speeding up and slowing down. "That's how you would make your turn," he said. Repairs were made on the Adams, readying it for battle off of Okinawa again. However, Mitchell said there were not much use for the repairs. "After we got repaired, we went back to Okinawa," he said. "Shortly after that, the war ended." The war ended Aug. 15, 1945, after atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Japanese surrendered. With the war over, Mitchell was offered to stay in the Naval Reserves. When he refused, he said he was told to find his own way home to the states from Okinawa. "It took me three days to find a ship," he said. At Okinawa, he said he found an Army unit on Buckner Bay, looking for displaced enemy fighters. He agreed to help them in order to get back to Pearl Harbor and was almost downed by sniper fire one night. But Mitchell was able to get back to Pearl Harbor safely. From there, he said it took three more days to find a ship back to the United States mainland. He said he found it in the USS Colorado. "(It was) an old, old rusty battle wagon that had never seen action," he said. The Colorado took Mitchell to Bremerton, Wash., where he was discharged from the Navy. When his time ended, Mitchell had a bad back, a bad knee and double vision from a piece of wire shrapnel lodged in his eye, all from his fighting. As a Pearl Harbor survivor, Mitchell has been to some of the reunions. He said he even shook hands with Mitsuo Fuchida, the Japanese captain who led the attack on Pearl Harbor. Fuchida became a Christian missionary after World War II. Fuchida wrote he had many near death experiences during the war, such as leaving Hiroshima the day before the atomic bomb was dropped, leaving him to believe someone was watching over him. "He told me he had never heard of Jesus Christ," Mitchell said. "Their god was Emperor Hirohito." Fuchida died in Japan at the age of 73 in 1976. However, Mitchell said Fuchida had long since regretted his actions at Pearl Harbor. "He was so sorry for Pearl Harbor," Mitchell said. Mitchell cannot forget his time in World War II, nor does he want to. He takes great pride in serving, especially on a historic ship such as the Honolulu. He said he has the entire history of the Honolulu, as well as the last known picture of the ship sitting in the English Channel. He said he wants to give these artifacts to either the Smithsonian Museum or to Queen Elizabeth in England. Chuck is a fighter, a real patriot in very sense of the word, and not the kind of man who gives up despite unfavorable circumstances. We could all learn something from his unfailing positive attitude, his determination to recover as quickly as possible and his amazing resilience. Chuck was not the only child that Raymond and Anna sent off to war. His brothers Henry, Pete and Walter were also away at the same time. Anna was given the title as a 4 Star mother. This was an honor that she cherished deeply. After Chuck returned home, he went to work for two years at a CCC Camp, a federal program for the youth. He eventually moved to Seattle, Washington where he began working at E&E Meats as a Meat Cutter. Chuck lived with pain most of his life, having injured his back in a 1942 air and sea battle in the Pacific. This World War II naval veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor can serve as an inspiration to others as he has for me. Chuck Mitchell is not only a fine gentleman with a delightful personality, he is the very essence of a true American patriot. I am so proud to count him as one of my friends. God bless him."Chuck was one who was never shy to share is opinion.  Several of his thoughts have been shared with The Independent as "Letters to the Editor."Some of them follow: To the Editor: I have always been for the person, not the party. And after listening to Sarah Palin recently ... I like her as she is not afraid to say and do what she thinks is right. Sell things that are costing the people and throw out the people that got into office just to line their pockets but are not putting in their time to help the people. I want someone that's not afraid to say what's right. You've read some of my letters. Don't be afraid to say what you think is right. Chuck Mitchell To the Editor:The other day I got the surprise of my life.I was driving up toward Pinetop when I saw a sign that said Darbi's back behind the trees and as nosy as I am I turned in. What did I find but a restaurant with the best food I've ever had and hospitality that you would have to see to believe.Everything's not bad behind the trees.Chuck MitchellA special thank you to Rob Densmore, Christopher Mark Slattery and Wiley Acheson (all from the White Mountain Independent) for their contributions in providing information for this obituary.  They all had a great relationship with Chuck and he considered them his friends.Chuck is survived by his brother, Walter Mitchell; caregivers and dear friends, Debbie and Dale Roud and their daughter, Roxanne. He was preceded in death by his son; brothers, Henry and Pete Mitchell and sisters, Betty Scott and Florence Mitchell.A special memorial service for Churck will begin at 2:00 P.M., Friday, October 6, 2017. at Owens Livingston Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel, 320 N. 9th Street in Show Low, Arizona, where Chaplain Kevin Weaver, of Hospice Compasses will officiate.