Born November 10, 1895. Died June 9, 1964.

Edward Alexander Mitchell was born in New Haven,, Connecticut, on November 10, 1895, son of Edward Anthony Mitchell and Mary Wallach Mitchell.  He attended the Westminster School, Simsbury, Connecticut, and University School of Washington, D.C. before his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, from the State of New York in June, 1913. While a mid-shipman he played class soccer and served on the staff of The Log. Graduated and commissioned Ensign on March 29, 1917, he received temporary promotions to Lieutenant, both grades, during WorldWar I, was commissioned to those ranks in 1920, and subsequently advanced to the rank of Captain dating from January 1, 1942.  His promotion to Rear Admiral dates from his transfer to the Retired List of the navy, June 30, 1949, advanced on the basis of combat awards.

Following graduation from the Naval Academy in March 1917, he was assigned to the USS NEW ORLEANS cruiser operating in the Atlantic on escort duty, and later had duty withthe Armed Guard aboard the SS MONGOLIA. [passenger and cargo liner]. He served for about a year also as Communication Officer, later as Engineer Officer of the USS JENKINS, based at Queenstown, Ireland, with U.S. Destroyer Force. Detached from the JENKINS on March 18, 1919, for five years thereafter he served in ships of the Atlantic Fleet, Asiatic Fleet, including the BELKNAP,McCALLA, PRUITT, and NOA​, having duty as Engineer Officer, Executive Officer and Navigator during that period.

He returned home [where is home] in May 1924 in the transport USS CHAUMONT and on July 3, 1924, he reported to the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. After completing the junior course there, he served for one year in the Naval Communications, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, DC. From July 1926, until June 1929, he again had duty at sea, serving consecutively as Communication Officer of the USS TEXAS, flagship of Scouting Force, and as Executive Officer and Navigator of the USS SANDS of Destroyer Scouting Force. He returned in June 1929 to the Office of Naval Communications and served as Officer in Charge Registered Publications Sectionuntil detached on September 8, 1931.

He next joined the USS TENNESSEE and served the first year as Communication Officer then First Lieutenant while that battleship operated with Battle Force U.S. Fleet, The year June 1933-1934 he served on the staff of Commander in Chief, United States Fleet as Officer in Charge to organize the first Fleet Communication Security Unit, being quartered during most of that period in the USS UTAH. Returning to the Navy Department, he had a second tour of duty as Office in Charge, Registered Publications Section, Office of Naval Communications.

Following duty in charge of fitting out the USS SHAW, he assumed command of that destroyer upon her commissioning, September 18, 1936 and when relieved on June 9, 1938, had orders to report for instruction at the Naval War College. Completing the senior course in May 1939, he remained there two years for duty on the staff. In May 1941, he had duty in charge of fitting out the USS ALCOR and assumed command at her commissioning, September 4, 1941. The ALCOR was flagship of Commander Train, Atlantic Fleet, when United States entered the war with the Axis, December 8, 1941, following the Pearl Harbor attack.

On March 16, 1942, he was named Operations Officer and Chief Planning Officer of the Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet when that first amphibious force was formed, and took part in the initiation of the large amphibious establishment in the Chesapeake Bay area. Under Admiral Henry K. Hewitt, USN, as Commander Western Naval Task Force (T.F.34), he was in charge of the planning for the occupation of French Morocco, and took part aboard the USS Augusta. Flagship. In operations off Fedhala, November 8-10, 1942. He was awarded the GoldStar in lieu of the Second Legion of Merit, the citation stating: “…as Operations Officer on the Staff of an Amphibious Force commander prior to and during landing operations in French Morocco on November 8, 1942.Charged with the difficult assignment of formulating and executing plans….(he) applied himself with untiring perseverance to the many operational problems connected with the rapidly changing and expanding organization.  By his sound judgment and meticulous attention to detail, he contributed immeasurably to the success of our landing  assault in this vital war area.”

When Admiral Alan G. Kirk, USN, succeeded to command of the Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet, Rear Admiral Mitchell remained on his staff in charge of the planning and operations for the participation of Task Force 85 in the landing of occupation forces at Scoglitti, Sicily. He was awarded the Legion of Merit “For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services  to the government of  the United States…prior to and during the landing operations on the Island of Sicily, July 10-14, 1943. Throughout the long planning phase of this campaign as well as during the actual assault on the island (he) worked with tireless energy and brilliant tactical skill to perfect and direct every detail of this hazardous undertaking…enabling the 45th Division, United States Army, and our naval forces to accomplish their joint mission with exceedingly small losses.”

On November 30, 1943 he was transferred to London. England as Assistant Chief of Staff (Plans) on the staff of Admiral Kirk, Commander Western naval Task Force (T.F. 122) for planning the assault operations in the Normandy beaches. During the Normandy assault, he served aboard the USS ACHERNAR and on shore as liaison officer to Lieutenant General Courtney H. Hodges, USA, Deputy Commander, First Army form June 6 to 11, 1944, returning at that time to serve in his usual duties aboard the flagship AUGUSTA which remained off the Normandy beaches until July 3, 1944. For outstanding services in that assignment, he was awarded the Gold Star in lieu of the third Legion of Merit The citation continues: “…in the planning and execution of the Allied assault landing on the Northern coast of France (he) materially furthered development of the Normandy Campaign, thereby rendering immeasurable service to the government of the United States and the Allied Nations…”

He served for two months in London as Temporary Chief of Staff to Vice Admiral William A. Glassford, USN. Transferred to the Pacific, he assumed command of the USS SALT LAKE CITY in November, 1944, and served in that command until September 28, 1945.

During the period of his command that cruiser, with Cruiser Division 5, participated in successive assault bombardments upon Chichi Jima, Hah Jimi, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Gold star in lieu of the second Bronze Star Medal, both with Combat V. The citation follows: “For heroic achievement…against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima from February 16 to March 7, 1945. Because of thorough concealment of enemy installations, Captain Mitchell maneuvered his ship to within perilously close range of threatening enemy shore batteries and delivered prolonged bombardment and counter fire, thereby destroying enemyinstallations and contributing greatly to the success of the assault landing and subsequent capture of the island….”

Bronze Star Medal: “For heroic achievement as Commanding Officer of the USS SALT LAKE CITY during the Amphibious Invasion of enemy Japanese-controlled Okinawa, Kyukyu Retto, from March 21 to May 28, 1945. Directing his ship in accurate and effective bombardments against hostileshore installations (he) rendered invaluable support in the assault landings…”

As temporary Commander of Cruiser Division 5 during July, 1945, in the SALT LAKE CITY he engaged in covering the China Sea mine sweeping operations as part of Task Force 95. He then transferred to the North Pacific in August, 1945 and took part in the occupation of Northern Japan (Ominato) September 8 to 28, 1945.

From Dec 3, 1945 until June 30, 1947, he served as Senior Member of the Tactical and Doctrinal Publications Panel in the Operations Readiness Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. On July 1, 1947, he transferred to the Strategic Plans Division of that office and was designated a delegate to the Inter- American Defense Board. Detached from that assignment on April 15, 1948, he returned to duty in the Operational Readiness Division where he was engaged jointly with officers of the Army and Air Force in the preparation of Joint Doctrinal Publications until relieved of active duty pending his retirement June 3, 1949.

In addition to the Legion of /Merit with two gold Stars and the Bronze Star Medal with Gold Star, Rear Admiral Mitchell has the Victory medal, Destroyer Clasp (USS JENKINS); the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two engagement stars; the Philippines Liberation Ribbon; and World War II Victory Medal. He also has the Croix de Guerre awarded by the French Government.

He was married to the former Georgette Ottolina Van Wageningen of The Hague and London.