This information is from the book, "History of Tillman County (OK), Volume II", a 1978 publication of the Tillman county Historical Society and is used with their consent.

In an effort to include all Tillman County Vets, we add this name, Joe David Mitchell. This is based on an article on page 81of publication.

Joe David Mitchell was attending the University of Oklahoma when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. He immediately volunteered for the armed services. He chose the Naval Air Corps and reported for training on February 26, 1942. After training, he flew to New Hebrides to join his squadron. The publication tells how his plane was damaged and forced to land on water. They beaced alongside Stirling Island off Mono on July 21. On Sept 12, the men risked enemy dangers and rafted off the island, where they were rescued 12 miles away. They were flown to Guadacanal.