Carl Berg Mitchell
Major, U.S. Air Force

Carl Berg Mitchell selected Air Force and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force upon graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1950. He was one of 7 Class of 1950 graduates to make the ultimate sacrifice in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, and one of 336 graduates of the USMA at West Point to die in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.

Carl's mother married Clark Mitchell, a family friend and fellow Army officer, and he adopted Cully and Corwin in 1941.

On 14 January 1964, Major Carl Berg Mitchell was serving as an Advisor-Pilot of a B-26B Invader aircraft in the 1st Air Commando Squadron, 34th Tactical Group, Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, during the Vietnam War.

On that date, Maj Mitchell voluntarily exposed his aircraft to the enemy during low level flights over hidden Viet Cong machine gun installations. After completing his first drop of Napalm, despite the heavy machine gun fire that repeatedly struck his plane, Maj Mitchell aggressively continued his efforts to locate and destroy the machine gun installations until his badly damaged aircraft crashed and burned. Maj Mitchell's extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship and devotion to duty that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Air Force's second highest award for valor, the Air Force Cross.

Because a formal declaration of war by Congress did not exist at the time of this mission, Maj Mitchell and his Navigator, Captain Vincent Hickman, were listed by the Defense Department as non-combat deaths. At the time, Air Force personnel in Vietnam were there in the role of advisors and, as such, a Vietnamese observer was with them on this mission and was also lost in action. Capt Hickman was also posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross for this mission. The remains of Maj Mitchell and Capt Hickman have never been recovered.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Air Force Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Air Force Senior Pilot Badge

Air Force Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pride in presenting the Air Force Cross (Posthumously) to Major Carl Berg Mitchell (AFSN: 0-20290), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an Advisor-Pilot of a B-26B aircraft in the 1st Air Commando Squadron, 34th Tactical Group, Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, in action on 14 January 1964. On that date, Major Mitchell voluntarily exposed himself and his aircraft during low level flights over hidden Viet Cong machine gun installations. Despite heavy machine gun fire, which repeatedly struck his aircraft, Major Mitchell aggressively continued his efforts to locate and destroy the machine gun installations until his badly damaged aircraft crashed and burned. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Major Mitchell reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Honors

The name Carl B Mitchell is located on Panel 1E Line 40 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Memorialization

The remains of Major Carl Berg Mitchell have never been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the USAF Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial at Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158595449/carl-berg-mitchell

In addition, a headstone for Major Carl Berg Mitchell was placed in his memory at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery West Point, Orange County, NY.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61654229/carl-e._berg-mitchell