Mark E. Mitchell: Difference between revisions
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'''Mark E. Mitchell''' |
'''Mark E. Mitchell''' was the Acting [[Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities|Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict]] of the [[United States Department of Defense]]. A retired [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]], Mitchell was the first member of the [[United States Army]] to be awarded the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] during the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2014)|War in Afghanistan]] and was the first to receive the award since the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>{{citeweb|title=Hall of Valor – Mark E. Mitchell |url=http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3675 |publisher=[[Gannett Government Media|Military Times]] |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129071349/http://www.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3675 |archivedate=November 29, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{citenews|author=Army Public Affairs |title=Afghanistan SF leader gets first DSC since Vietnam|url=http://www.army.mil/article/1666/afghanistan-sf-leader-gets-first-dsc-since-vietnam/|publisher=[[United States Department of the Army|army.mil]]|date=February 2, 2007}}</ref> He received the award in 2003 for his actions during the [[Battle of Qala-i-Jangi]], which took place in late November to early December 2001. |
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==Early life, education and family== |
==Early life, education and family== |
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[[File:Army distinguished service cross medal.jpg|50px|left]] |
[[File:Army distinguished service cross medal.jpg|50px|left]] |
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{{quotation|The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to [[Major (United States)|Major]] Mark E. Mitchell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 3d Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), during the period of 25 to 28 November 2001. Major Mitchell distinguished himself while engaged in combat operations during Operation Enduring Freedom. As the Ground Force Commander of a rescue operation during the Battle of Qala-I-Jang Fortress, Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, Major Mitchell ensured the freedom of one American and the posthumous repatriation of another. His unparalleled courage under fire, decisive leadership and personal sacrifice were directly responsible for the success of the rescue operation and were further instrumental in ensuring the city of Mazar-e-Sharif did not fall back in the hands of the Taliban. His personal example has added yet another laurel to the proud military history of this Nation and serves as the standard for all others to emulate. Major Mitchell's gallant deed was truly above and beyond the call of duty and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), the United States Army, and the United States of America.}} |
{{quotation|The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to [[Major (United States)|Major]] Mark E. Mitchell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 3d Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), during the period of 25 to 28 November 2001. Major Mitchell distinguished himself while engaged in combat operations during Operation Enduring Freedom. As the Ground Force Commander of a rescue operation during the Battle of Qala-I-Jang Fortress, Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, Major Mitchell ensured the freedom of one American and the posthumous repatriation of another. His unparalleled courage under fire, decisive leadership and personal sacrifice were directly responsible for the success of the rescue operation and were further instrumental in ensuring the city of [[Mazar-e-Sharif]] did not fall back in the hands of the Taliban. His personal example has added yet another laurel to the proud military history of this Nation and serves as the standard for all others to emulate. Major Mitchell's gallant deed was truly above and beyond the call of duty and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), the United States Army, and the United States of America.}} |
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==Post military career== |
==Post military career== |
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Revision as of 01:05, 28 February 2018
Mark E. Mitchell | |
|---|---|
War in Afghanistan Iraq War | |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (4) |
Mark E. Mitchell was the Acting
War in Afghanistan and was the first to receive the award since the Vietnam War.[2][3] He received the award in 2003 for his actions during the Battle of Qala-i-Jangi
, which took place in late November to early December 2001.
Early life, education and family
Mitchell's home of record is
John F. Kennedy School of Government and The United States Army War College.[8] Mitchell is married, and has two daughters.[9]
Military career
Mitchell began his career assigned to the
Navy SEAL was awarded a Navy Cross.[12] Mitchell was later involved in the capture of Mohammad Fazl.[13][14] In 2003, he deployed to Iraq.[5] Later that year he traveled to MacDill Air Force Base, where he received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions leading the effort to quell the Taliban's offensive at the Battle of Qala-i-Jangi in 2001.[15] CIA Director George Tenet, the widow of Agent Johnny Micheal Spann, and others attended the award ceremony.[16]
From 2003 to 2009, Mitchell deployed to Iraq at least once a year.
In 2014, Mitchell was a member of the
Obama Administration's National Security Council as the director for counterrorism;[13][23] he held that position until January 2015.[24] While director, he was criticized for informing families, including Kayla Mueller's, that wanted to negotiate a ransom with terrorists to recover their family members, of the law prohibiting the payment of ransom for the release of hostages.[14] When the Obama Administration relaxed the American policy against ransom payment in exchange for hostages in June 2015, Mitchell criticized the change.[25]
Awards and decorations
Mitchell has received several awards, and other decorations including the following:[6]
|
Distinguished Service Cross |
|
Defense Superior Service Medal |
  |
Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters |
|
Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
|
Combat Infantryman Badge (second award) |
|
Expert Infantryman Badge |
|
Master Parachutist Badge
|
|
Air Assault Badge |
|
Military Freefall Parachutist Badge |
|
Special Forces Tab |
|
Ranger tab |
Distinguished Service Cross citation
His award citation reads:[26]
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to
Mazar-e-Sharifdid not fall back in the hands of the Taliban. His personal example has added yet another laurel to the proud military history of this Nation and serves as the standard for all others to emulate. Major Mitchell's gallant deed was truly above and beyond the call of duty and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), the United States Army, and the United States of America.
Post military career
As of 2016[update], Mitchell had retired and become a non-resident fellow at the Combating Terrorism Center.[27] He has also written about irregular warfare in the Small Wars Journal.[28]
Popular media
In 2009,
Horse Soldiers, began. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film is slated to star Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon.[30]
References
- ^ David Siry (26 October 2015). "Creative Problem Solving in a Special Forces Environment". West Point Center of Oral History. United States Military Academy. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- Military Times. Archived from the original on 29 November 2011.)
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help - ^ Army Public Affairs (2 February 2007). "Afghanistan SF leader gets first DSC since Vietnam". army.mil.
- ^ "Mark E. Mitchell". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
- ^ a b Haberkorn, Jen (20 November 2003). "ROTC grad honored for heroic war acts". Marquette Wire. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ a b c d "All-University Recipients Professional Achievement Award COL. MARK E. MITCHELL, ENG '87". Marquette University Alumni Association. Marquette University. April 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ Mitchell, Mark E. (March 1999). Strategic Leverage: Information Operations and Special Operations Forces (PDF) (Master's Thesis). Defense Technical Information Center. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ a b Olsen, Major April N. (18 August 2009). "5th Special Forces Group welcomes new commander". Army.mil. United States Army. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ Pickard, Gabrielle (2 September 2011). "The Unsung Navy Seal Heroes You Never Heard About". Top Secret Writers. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-4336-7343-6.
- ^ Flesher, John (10 May 2009). "A military victory few can imagine". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- ^ Zoroya, Gregg (10 November 2006). "Major led team that quelled Afghan prison riot". USA Today. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ a b Quade, Alex (4 August 2014). "Shock U.S. Army admission: Obama freed Taliban 'psychopath' in Bergdahl trade". Washington Times. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
Army Col. Mark Mitchell, director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, is a Green Beret who helped capture Mullah Mohammad Fazl in the early days of the war in Afghanistan.
- ^ a b Meek, James Gordon; Christie, Megan; Epstein, Brian; Ross, Brian (29 August 2016). "Emails Show ISIS Appeared Eager to Release Kayla Mueller for Ransom, Expert Says". ABC News. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ Stacy, Mitchell (15 November 2003). "Hero soldier decorated at MacDill". Ocala Star Banner. Associated Press. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ Brink, Graham (15 November 2013). "A David wins a goliath honor". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ Huber, H. Max (11 March 2009). "National Security Fellas". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-61592-761-6.
- ^ Mekhennet, Souad; Ryan, Missy (16 April 2016). "Outside the wire: How U.S. Special Operations troops secretly help foreign forces target terrorists". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
- New York Times. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ Paddie, Glen (5 May 2011). "NYC gifts 5th Group with piece of history". Fort Campbell Courier. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ "Someone You Should Know: Special Forces Major Mark E. Mitchell". Pundit Review. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-385-35205-5.
- ^ "Exclusive: Italy paying ransoms in Syria and Somalia". Al Jazeera. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ MacAskill, Ewen; Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (8 October 2015). "Italian intelligence lied about hostage rescue to hide ransom payment". Guardian. United Kingdom. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-7653-5703-8.
- ^ "COLONEL (RET) MARK E. MITCHELL, US ARMY". Combating Terrorism Center. United States Military Academy. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ Ferenzi, Steve (18 May 2016). "Imposing Costs by Other Means: Strategic Irregular Warfare Options to Counter Russian Aggression". Small Wars Foundation. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-4767-8019-1.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (30 September 2016). "Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon to Star in Afghanistan War Drama 'Horse Soldiers'". Variety. Retrieved 4 November 2016.