Preserving the History of World War II
A Pennsylvania boy, born in Charleroi, PA, Mitch grew up as the typical small-town American boy. His family had
immigrated to the United States at the turn of the century and instilled in him a great love for God and his
country, America. Mitch wrote, “I will never forget listening to the exciting stories of American history in my
school when I was a child. I learned all about the men who gave their lives to make this country free.” Along
with what he learned from his parents and teachers, he carried with him values learned in the Boy Scouts while
acquiring the rank of Eagle Scout and lived his life by the Boy Scout Oath, which reads:
“On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake and morally straight.”
He went off in 1936 to join the Marine Corps to seek adventure, serve his nation, and see the world. When war
with Japan broke out in 1941, Mitch was a platoon sergeant in charge of a machine gun platoon with the 7th
Regiment, 1st Marine Division. On October 23, 1942 on the Island of Guadalcanal, he and his 33 men held off
approximately 3,000 Japanese soldiers in an attack that threatened Henderson Airfield. He was awarded the
Medal of Honor for his actions.
Paige rose through the ranks of the Marine Corps after a battlefield commission in 1943, retiring as a full colonel
in 1964.
After retirement he became involved in the scientific research and development of various miniature rockets
and rocket weaponry. With orders from President Johnson, Mitch went to Vietnam in 1967 to test the weapon
company’s 13mm handgun and 13mm Foliage Penetrating Signal Distress Kit in combat conditions. Further
involvement with development of military items led to his invention of the “TUPIT” (The Universal Paige
Inflatable Tent), the design of which was donated to U.S. Army laboratories.
Later in life, he served as an official liaison between the FBI and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to
expose and prosecute imposters claiming to be Medal of Honor winners until his death in 2003.
The Eldred World War II Museum is proud to share the story of an American Hero Col. Mitchell Paige. Visitors to
the Museum can see Col. Paige's Medal of Honor, Battlefiield Artifacts, see a statue commissioned to remember
Col. Paige's heroism, and hear Col. Paige's story in "his own words."
immigrated to the United States at the turn of the century and instilled in him a great love for God and his
country, America. Mitch wrote, “I will never forget listening to the exciting stories of American history in my
school when I was a child. I learned all about the men who gave their lives to make this country free.” Along
with what he learned from his parents and teachers, he carried with him values learned in the Boy Scouts while
acquiring the rank of Eagle Scout and lived his life by the Boy Scout Oath, which reads:
“On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake and morally straight.”
He went off in 1936 to join the Marine Corps to seek adventure, serve his nation, and see the world. When war
with Japan broke out in 1941, Mitch was a platoon sergeant in charge of a machine gun platoon with the 7th
Regiment, 1st Marine Division. On October 23, 1942 on the Island of Guadalcanal, he and his 33 men held off
approximately 3,000 Japanese soldiers in an attack that threatened Henderson Airfield. He was awarded the
Medal of Honor for his actions.
Paige rose through the ranks of the Marine Corps after a battlefield commission in 1943, retiring as a full colonel
in 1964.
After retirement he became involved in the scientific research and development of various miniature rockets
and rocket weaponry. With orders from President Johnson, Mitch went to Vietnam in 1967 to test the weapon
company’s 13mm handgun and 13mm Foliage Penetrating Signal Distress Kit in combat conditions. Further
involvement with development of military items led to his invention of the “TUPIT” (The Universal Paige
Inflatable Tent), the design of which was donated to U.S. Army laboratories.
Later in life, he served as an official liaison between the FBI and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to
expose and prosecute imposters claiming to be Medal of Honor winners until his death in 2003.
The Eldred World War II Museum is proud to share the story of an American Hero Col. Mitchell Paige. Visitors to
the Museum can see Col. Paige's Medal of Honor, Battlefiield Artifacts, see a statue commissioned to remember
Col. Paige's heroism, and hear Col. Paige's story in "his own words."
| Eldred WWII Museum & Learning Center 201 Main Street Eldred, PA 16731 814-225-2220 Eldred is 80 miles south of Buffalo, NY |
| Eldred World War II Museum Copyright © 2007. All Rights Reserved. Address: 201 Main Street P.O. Box 273 Eldred, PA 16731 | Phone: 814-225-2220 |
The Eldred World War II Museum
| Colonel Mitchell Paige Pennsylvania Boy American Hero |
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