First Lieutenant Mitchell was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 19 September 1950.

Mitchell was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.