A Soldier's Story: Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud Jr.



In Hatfield, Wisconsin, Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud Jr. was born on July 2, 1925.

He attended Neillsville High School, although he left at 16 to join the U.S. Marine Corps in August of 1941.

He was initially assigned to the 9th Marines but applied and was accepted into Marine Raiders training. During World War II, Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud deployed during the Battle of Guadalcanal and took part in Carlson's Long Patrol but was hounded by tropical diseases and returned to the States in 1942.

After Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud recuperated, he was assigned to the 29th Marines, deploying to the Battle of Okinawa, where he received a shoulder wound. At the end of World War II, in 1945, he was discharged from the Marines at the rank of Sergeant.

From 1945 to 1948, he lived in Wisconsin, working with an anthropology study of Native American child care customs and writing. Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud Jr. published an article in the Wisconsin Archaeologist about the 1832 Black Hawk War.

In 1948, he re-enlisted in the U.S. Army's military and was assigned to the 19th Infantry. His unit deployed to Japan for the occupation.

When war broke out in Korea, his unit's proximity immediately put Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud into combat. Corporal Red Cloud deployed to the Korean War and fought in the Battle of Taejon, participated in the Pusan Perimeter Campain, and played combat roles in both battles of the Naktong Offensive.

Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud earned a Congressional Medal of Honor on November 5, 1950, operating at a forward listening post and spotting enemy troops. He immediately raised the alarm and opened fire. Despite being several wounded, he continued to fire, at one point requesting to be tied to a tree so he could continue to fight. While his position was eventually overrun, his actions gave his company time to evacuate the wounded, gather their forces, and ultimately turn back the enemy attack.

He rests in Decorah Cemetery at Winnebago Mission, Wisconsin.

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com

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Location: Hatfield, WI 54754, USA

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