Since Christopher native and longtime Sesser resident Amos Mitchell returned from overseas duty during World War II more than 70 years ago, he largely kept the knowledge he had earned medals to himself.
His son, Ned, didn’t know.
After all, Mitchell, now 97, was focused on getting home in 1944, not collecting awards.
“That was the last thing on his mind,” Ned Mitchell said.
Then, on Tuesday at Helia Healthcare in Benton, Mitchell got his awards.
Mitchell sat as well wishers took photos with him and a glass case of medals sat nearby. Inside were the awards he earned decades ago: An American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars a World War II victory medal and an Honorable Service Lapel Button.
It was a joyous occasion for his family, but asked how he felt about the honor, Mitchell reflected on those who hadn’t come home.
“I lost a lot of good buddies over there,” he said.
His son helped secure the awards by contacting U.S. Rep. Mike Bost’s office, and the Murphysboro Republican presented Mitchell with the awards Tuesday.
Ned Mitchell only found out about his father’s service awards in August while reviewing some records. He asked where the medals were, and his father said he’d never collected them. He’d kept his focus on his friends.
“He’ll always answer questions if you ask him, but he always goes back to the ones that didn’t come home,” Ned Mitchell said.
“I wanted him to be rewarded for his service and get what was due to him,” he said.
