28 Facts About Mitchell Paige

Mitchell Paige was an American retired United States Marine Corps colonel who received the nation's highest military decoration for valor in combat, the Medal of Honor, during World War II.

On October 26,1942, after thirty-three Marines in his machine gun platoon were killed or wounded defending a ridge during the Battle of Guadalcanal, Platoon Sergeant Paige operated four machine guns, singlehandedly stopping an entire Japanese regiment.

Mitchell Paige's parents were ethnic Serbs, immigrants from the Herzegovina, originally surnamed Pejic.

Mitchell Paige's mother kept him and his brother in touch with their roots, reminding them of the Battle of Kosovo, but told them to be proud Americans.

Mitchell Paige graduated from McKeesport High School before enlisting in the US Marine Corps.

Mitchell Paige enlisted in the Marine Corps on September 1,1936, at Baltimore, Maryland, and completed his boot camp training at Parris Island, South Carolina.

Mitchell Paige served in China from October 1938 to September 1939 and during his tour he guarded American property during the famous Tientsin flood.

Mitchell Paige left North China and returned to the US in April 1940 for guard duty at the Brooklyn and Philadelphia Navy Yards.

In March 1941, Mitchell Paige was transferred back to the United States and ordered to New River, North Carolina, to help construct and prepare a new Marine Corps training base, which later became Camp Lejeune.

Platoon Sergeant Mitchell Paige fired his machine gun until it was destroyed, then moved from gun to gun, keeping up a withering fire until he finally received reinforcements.

Mitchell Paige later led a bayonet charge that drove the Japanese back and prevented a breakthrough in American lines.

Mitchell Paige remained on Guadalcanal until January 1943, when he went to Melbourne, Australia, with the 1st Marine Division.

Mitchell Paige was promoted to captain on February 28,1945.

In July 1950, Mitchell Paige returned to active duty again at the beginning of the Korean War, and was assigned duty at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California.

Mitchell Paige was later transferred to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at San Diego, California, as Plans and Operations Officer of the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion.

Mitchell Paige was promoted to the rank of major on January 1,1951.

In October, Major Mitchell Paige became executive officer of the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, until October 1952, when he was transferred to the 4th Special Junior Course at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico.

Mitchell Paige attended school there until May 1953, then served as division recruiting officer, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, until February 1954.

On November 1,1959, Mitchell Paige was placed on the Marine Corps Disability Retired List and promoted to colonel for being specially commended for performance of duty in actual combat.

In 1975, a book Mitchell Paige wrote was published about his experiences titled A Marine Named Mitch.

On November 15,2003, Mitchell Paige died of congestive heart failure at his home in La Quinta, California at the age of 85.

Mitchell Paige was the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient of the Guadalcanal campaign.

Mitchell Paige was buried with full military honors at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

Mitchell Paige received numerous awards both as a member of the military and as a civilian.

Mitchell Paige's was the Marine Corps figure in a series honoring Medal of Honor recipients from each branch of the US military.

In 1999, A Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to Mitchell Paige, recognizing him as one of five Medal of Honor recipients from the Southern California desert area.

On March 23,2003, Mitchell Paige was presented with the Eagle Scout award by the Boy Scouts of America, which he had earned in 1936, his last year in high school, but had never received because he had left home to join the Marine Corps.

Mitchell Paige donated his Medal of Honor and his collection of military memorabilia to the Eldred facility.