Mitchell Paige

War Record

Mitchell Paige was born on August 31st, 1918 in Charleroi, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1936 [1]. During World War II, Paige served as Platoon Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps within the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division [2]. He was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in the Solomon Islands on October 26th, 1942, where in which he alone was able to hold off enemy forces from advancing before reinforcements arrived. Once more troops had arrived, Paige led a bayonet charge against enemy lines and eventually causing them to withdraw [3].

Paige the Inventor

He also served in the Korean War and was able to receive the rank of Colonel [4]. Paige eventually retired from the Marine Corps in July of 1964. It was then after his retirement that Paige began helping develop miniature rocket systems, penetration aids, and rocket launchers for MB Associates Science and Rocketry located in San Ramon, California. He is also credited with inventing The Universal Paige Inflatable Tent, an invention he later donated to the Army laboratories located in Massachusetts [5].

Paige the Lawman

Paige also joined forces with the FBI during the 1950s in order to help track down individuals who were either illegally donning, producing or selling the Medal of Honor. His involvement eventually influenced a change in the severity of penalty charges concerning the Medal of Honor. Whereas previously it was regarded as a minor offense, the penalty is now a year in prison with a $100,000 fine [6].

Remembrance

In 1975, Paige also published an autobiography entitled, A Marine Named Mitch. He is a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, among a number of other associations he is an affiliate to [7]. Paige passed away on November 15th, 2018 in La Quinta, California at the age of 85 and was laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery [8].

Footnotes