Mitchell Paige

He manned successive guns and then led a bold counterattack.

Mitchell Paige was born at Charleroi, Pennsylvania, on 31 August 1918. After graduating from McKeesport High School, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1936. His early service took him to the Philippines and China, where he helped guard American property during the fighting and floods around Tientsin. He also served aboard ship and at Caribbean and American stations.

During the Guadalcanal campaign Paige was a platoon sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines. On 26 October 1942 a Japanese attack broke through the defensive line near his machine-gun position. He directed his section's fire until its other Marines were killed or wounded. Left alone, he continued firing and moved to another gun when his first was put out of action.

Paige kept successive weapons operating against the advancing enemy until reinforcements arrived. He then organized a new defensive line and led a bayonet counterattack. The action helped prevent the Japanese from widening the breach. General Alexander Vandegrift presented him with the Medal of Honor in Australia in May 1943.

Commissioned from the ranks, Paige returned to combat at Cape Gloucester and continued a Marine career after the Second World War. His later appointments included command and training work with regular and reserve Marines. He left active duty in 1959 and ultimately retired with the rank of colonel.

In civilian life Paige spoke about his experiences, supported veterans' organizations and wrote his autobiography, A Marine Named Mitch. He also worked to expose people falsely claiming military decorations. He died at his home in La Quinta, California, on 15 November 2003 and was buried in Riverside National Cemetery. His name was later given to a local middle school and veterans' facilities.