Samuel R. Mitchell, World War II CasualtyPorter County Data on World War II Casualties . . . .
Samuel R. Mitchell
Private First Class
Date of Birth: December 8, 1909
Date of Death: December 28, 1944
Burial: Nashville National Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
Cause of Death: Killed in Action (Belgium)
Date of Enlistment: April 18, 1942
Hometown: Valparaiso
Newspaper Notices:
Two Missing One Dead, On War Fronts
Pfc. Samuel R. Mitchell, 35, husband of Mrs. Isabelle Cochran Mitchell, who
resides with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. Ray Cochran, 503 Indiana avenue,
Valparaiso, was killed December 28, in Belgium, his wife was informed Thursday
as other war department communications reported two more Porter county men
missing in action and two wounded on the European front.
The missing men were Pvt. Gilbert L. Clark, 22, of Valparaiso RFD 3, unreported
since December 21 in Belgium, and Pvt. Victor Lorenz, Chesterton RFD 1, missing
since December 20 in Luxembourg.
The wounded are Sgt. Edward Pearson, of Chesterton, and Sgt. Donald K. Cannon,
of Kouts.
Pfc. Mitchell had been in the service since April, 1942, and went overseas last
October. He was married to Isabelle Cochran, of this city, on June 24 last at
Breckenridge, Ky. For eight years prior to his induction he was employed at the
Standard Steel company, Gary. Besides his widow he is survived by his father,
Benton M. Mitchell, of Byrdstown, Tenn., two sisters and five brothers.
Pfc. Clark was a member of the 38th Infantry unit in Belgium when he was
reported missing Dec. 21. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Clark, of
Washington township, and was indicated into the service on March 21, 1944. He
received his basic training at Camp Fannin, Texas, and went overseas on August
23 last. He has two brothers in the service, Corporal James J. Clark, in
England, and Pvt. Eugene K. Clark, stationed at Camp Howie, Texas.
Pvt. Lorenz was a member of an infantry division when he was listed as missing
in Luxembourg. His wife, Mildred Garrett Lorenz, resides with her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Lloyd Garrett, near Chesterton. A brother, Henry Lorenz, was killed in
action on Nov. 20, 1943, in the battle of Tarawa. He was a member of the 2nd
Marine division.
Three days after he went into action with the 75th Division in France, Sgt.
Pearson was slightly wounded in action on Dec. 27. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs.
Edwin Pearson of Chesterton.
Sgt. Cannon was reported among the list of American soldiers wounded in action
in the European area, according to a war department announcement made public
today.
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Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana;
January 20, 1945; Volume 18, Page 1, Column 2
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List of
Porter County World War II Casualties
Information abstracted and transcribed by Steven R. Shook