Last Medal of Honor recipient from the Battle of Guadalcanal USMC Colonel Mitchell Paige has died

homeofheroes.com ^

[opbuzz]

Actually, the title is correct, and the correct abbreviation is MoH.

It is commonly, and incorrectly, referred to as the "Congressional" MoH.

The Florida Times-Union
November 18, 2003

Marine Medal of Honor winner dies

By CHARLIE PATTON
The Times-Union
Mitchell Paige, a legendary Marine Medal of Honor winner who in March received his Eagle Scout pin from the North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, has died.

Mr. Paige, who retired from the Marines as a colonel in 1964 after a heart attack, died early Saturday morning at his home in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 85.

Mr. Paige, who became a Marine icon during action on Guadalcanal in World War II, was deeply moved by the belated Eagle Scout award. He wore it on every occasion on which he wore the Medal of Honor during the last year of his life, said Bill McCamy, a Jacksonville business executive and retired Navy helicopter pilot who helped arrange the honor and became a friend.

Mr. Paige, who enlisted in the Marines when he turned 18 in the fall of 1936, thought he had earned the Eagle Scout award during his senior year in high school in McKeesport, Pa. But apparently the paperwork was never filed.

A mortified Mr. Paige discovered years later that he was not on the official list of Eagle Scouts, which was especially embarrassing because he had helped expose more than 500 Medal of Honor impostors.

He mentioned his dilemma to Thomas A. Cottone Jr., an FBI special agent. Cottone investigated and verified that Paige had earned his Eagle Scout award. Cottone contacted friends who were active with the North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America. They took the issue to the organization's National Advancement Committee which authorized the award.

Mr. Paige got his Eagle Scout pin March 24 as part of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville's annual Eagle Scout Day, on which North Florida's 205 Eagle Scouts were honored.
After the ceremony, Mr. Paige's wife Marilyn said, "I've never seen a tear in his eye before."

Mr. Paige, who was a Marine sergeant at the time, won his Medal of Honor during action in the early morning hours of Oct. 26, 1942, while commanding an under-strength platoon of 33 Marines assigned to hold a ridge near strategically crucial Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. In the course of fighting that began about 2 a.m., his platoon was attacked by a Japanese force he estimated at 2,500.

As dawn broke, Mr. Paige gathered together what was left of his command and led a charge down the ridge that broke the Japanese attack. He took a water-cooled machine gun off its tripod, cradling it in his arms and firing from the waist, an image that every Marine has seen in paintings and posters, said 1st Sgt. Steven A. Garcia, who led a Marine Color Guard from the Blount Island Command during the Eagle Scout ceremony.

Mr. Paige is survived by his wife, Marilyn, six children, 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

charlie.pattonjacksonville.com, (904) 359-4413


This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/111803/met_14072747.shtml.

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

BTTT

[carlo3b]

Colonel Mitchell Paige, Thank you from the bottom of my heart and may God Bless You.

[Wiggins]

Here's a photo of Mitchell Paige receving a medal from General Vandergrift. My father was a Sergeant in the 1st Marine Division during WWII and had the privilage to serve with Mitchell Paige in Chesty Puller's 7th Regiment. God bless these men for their service to their country and let their sacrafice never be forgotten. Rest in peace Col Paige.

[ErnBatavia]

Here's the digital pic I took (unbeknownst to me, on the day he'd died) of the Veteran's Monument. Mitch's name rightly is atop the Marine Corps side....(mine is rightly deep among the ranks).

[viaveritasvita]

I read your typo as Singressional and never batted an eye!!

[viaveritasvita]

"And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23

My heartfelt condolences to the Marines -- the world is missing one of her heroes. May God bless us with more like him.

RIP

<><

[RightWinger]

My dad (still alive) was on Guadalcanal (army air corps) during WWII.

God be with you, Mitchell Paige, thank you for your service to our country.

[ErnBatavia]

This thread has been printed to this point, and will be presented to Mrs. Paige at the appropriate time.

The heartfelt comments in this thread might indeed comfort her.

Thank you all. Free Republic has shown again what a special place it is.

[fightu4it]

By fame's eternal camping ground

Their silent tents are spread

And glory guards with solemn round

The bivouac of the dead

[spodefly]

Semper Fi, Colonel.

[Wiggins]

And when he gets to heaven, To St. Peter he will tell "Another Marine reporting Sir, I've served my time in hell!"

[Robert Drobot]

Post 69.....Well done PhilDragoo.

May he rest in peace. God bless him.

[semaj]

A truly awesome American,...Mitchell Paige. The angels stand in awe.

[Ciexyz]

Rest in Peace. My local paper gave him a big bio in the Obituary section.

[jpl]

RIP Colonel, and thank you. A shame that you didn't make it to see the completion of the WWII Memorial.

[Lurker]

Rest easy Marine.

Semper Fi.

L

[Ciexyz]

Pittsburgh PA considers him a local boy. Born 1918 in Charleroi PA, graduate of McKeesport High School (both areas are in Western PA outside of Pittsburgh).

[Diva Betsy Ross]

God rest his soul. Heaven has a new angel tonight and he watches over the USA. His nane is going up on my family's thankful tree.

Prayers for the family.

[condi2008]

To fallen soldiers let us sing
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord

No more bleeding, no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
Just divine embrace, eternal light
In the Mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard though the angels sleep
Through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord