'A Marine Named Mitch' will be remembered as a hero
U.S. Marine Col. Mitchell Paige died last week, but "A Marine Named Mitch" will never be forgotten.
The Charleroi native, a decorated war hero, was the recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award given to the "bravest of the brave" as stated in the presidential proclamation honoring the armed forces on Veterans Day this year.
Paige earned the Medal of Honor on Oct. 26, 1942, for gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with a company of Marines in combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands.
When the enemy broke through the line directly in front of his position, Platoon Sgt. Paige was commanding a machine gun section. He continued to direct the fire of his gunners until all his men were either killed or wounded.
Alone, against the deadly hail of Japanese shells, Paige fought with his gun and when it was destroyed, took another. Moving from gun to gun, he never ceased fire against the advancing hordes until reinforcements finally arrived. Forming a new line, Paige aggressively led a bayonet charge, driving the enemy back and preventing a breakthrough in the lines.
"That was the turning battle for the South Pacific," said Ed Snarey who led the charge in honoring all Washington County Medal of Honor recipients. "The United States started to advance and the Japanese started to retreat because of that battle."
Snarey, of Canonsburg, is an officer with the Veterans of Foreign War 191 of Canonsburg. The World War II veteran saw combat with the U. S. Army 575 Field Artillery in Europe. Through the efforts of Snarey, sections of the Mon-Fayette Expressway honor Medal of Honor recipients.
Paige, who resided in California, made the trip home for the dedication of the expressway last year.
"Mitchell Paige was a fantastic individual," said Snarey. "He was very humble. As far as he was concerned, although he was awarded the medal he gave the credit to his outfit, not him and he was glad to represent them. He said they were all Medal of Honor recipients. He spent his life dedicated to the ideal of America and believing that he was receiving the medal, but it was for all the men of that day."
Paige was the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the ground battle for Guadalcanal, America's first ground offensive of World War II. He received a field commission from platoon sergeant to second lieutenant at Guadalcanal, Dec. 9, 1942.
After retirement in 1964, Paige settled in the state of California. Paige authored his autobiography, "A Marine Named Mitch," published in 1982. He was special ambassador representing the president with the U.S. State Department in the Solomons to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Guadalcanal's independence.
Paige was the liaison officer from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, working with the FBI to expose Medal of Honor imposters.
It is Paige's face that was the Marines' "GI Joe" action figure produced in 1998 by Hasbro Toy Co.
Linda Kacvinsky, of Canonsburg, tells a story about the journey Mitchell Paige took to join the Marines.
"When he joined the Marines, there was no recruiting station for Marines in the Pittsburgh area, so he walked to Baltimore to enlist," said Kacvinsky. "That was either the day of or day after his birthday. His mother made him a cake that he took with him. He said for many years that the taste of that cake remained with him."
When Paige left Charleroi as a youngster his family moved to West Mifflin. "We all grew up in the area known as Camden Hill," said Kacvinsky. "When Mitchell came to Pittsburgh for anything, he would visit Camden Hill. I can remember him visiting my grandfather, George Lynn. He was very close to my grandfather."
Kacvinsky, who is related to Paige by marriage, recalls the Mon-Fayette Expressway dedication. "Mitch was in a wheelchair and when the Honor Guard brought the flag to him, he got out of the wheelchair to salute the flag," she said. "He was a very unassuming and humble man and felt that medal belonged to the 33 men he served with."
Kacvinsky said Paige was a member of the Boy Scouts and had earned the Eagle Scout badge but went into the service before it was awarded. Years later, he got the necessary verification and was presented with the Eagle Scout Award.
Paige died at 3:50 a.m. on Nov. 15. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn.
A memorial service to honor the hometown boy will be held in Washington County. Details are yet to be finalized.
