Marine receives top honor for heroism

Talk about a cat with nine lives.

Former Marine Robert J. Mitchell II was wounded four times during two stints in Iraq and saved the life of several Marines, including a longtime friend, during fierce house-to-house fighting in Fallouja, Iraq, in 2004.

A “Thundering Third” Marine, Mitchell received the Navy Cross, the nation’s second-highest medal for heroism on the battlefield, at a July 28 Camp Pendleton ceremony for his courage during the Fallouja battle.

Huntington Beach adopted the 3rd Battalion 1st Marines in March 2005 and has been providing aid and support since, especially to members of the Marines’ families.

At the peak of the U.S. and coalition forces’ attack on Fallouja, when five Marines were trapped inside a house, Mitchell’s squad got the call to assist.

Mitchell braved bullets from snipers, who were hiding on rooftops and streets, to get to the wounded Marines and give them medical attention.

Mitchell refused treatment for his own shrapnel-related wounds in order to continue helping his fellow Marines.

At one point, while treating a Marine, Mitchell saw a wounded insurgent reach for a gun nearby.

Mitchell used his combat knife to kill him.

“I didn’t have a whole lot of time to get scared,” Mitchell said. “It was so nerve-wracking, that the adrenaline kind of takes over pretty much everything when you’re in combat.”

Later after sustaining several injuries, Mitchell was shipped home to recuperate and told not to return to the combat zone.

Mitchell has received two Purple Hearts for being wounded in the war.

“They have been through hell and back,” said City Councilman Gil Coerper, chairperson for the city’s support group for the 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment.

“I’m really proud of this young man for doing what he did, for fighting for country.”

Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler, commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, who gave the award to Mitchell, told those gathered at the ceremony: “Valor comes in a scale, and all the Marines, sailors and veterans here today know how rare of an occasion this is.”

Mitchell and his wife Sara have a 7-month-old son, Robert III. He lives with his family in Phoenix where he’s training to work on Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

“I figure I defended the freedom of America and I couldn’t really think of a better way to enjoy that freedom than by riding motorcycles and doing pretty much anything to do with motorcycles,” he said.

Not used to all the media attention, Mitchell said he hopes it will open some doors for him.

“It’s been fun, and I enjoy meeting and talking to people,” he said. “It really hasn’t had a chance to sink in completely.”

Mitchell decided to leave the Marine Corps in March 2005.

“I was ready to move on to something new and see what else was out there,” Mitchell said.

“After going into combat twice, it was time to turn the page,” he said.

Mitchell started off as a corporal with the Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. He rose to the rank of a sergeant.

Mitchell sums up his memories of Huntington Beach, the city that adopted his battalion, simply: “It’s coastline California. It’s beautiful.”