Born November 6, 1921 Frank was one of five sons born of Audley  Hensley and Zora Ethel Shrewsbury Mitchem of Crumpler, McDowell County, WV. He was married to Thelma Mae Huffman Mitchem and they had one daughter Phyllis Joan Mitchem Anderson.    He entered service August 4, 1942 at Parris Island, S.C and served at Camp Pendleton, CA and the South Pacific Theatre where he was in two battles.  He was awarded two Battle Stars, the Purple Heart and a Presidential Unit Citation.  He was transported by  troop ship to the South Pacific where he saw battle in  Iwo Jima.  The Japanese were loosing at this point.  Only two major campaigns  remained after Iwo Jima that which was Yuzon and Okinawa.

Frank was my uncle and I remember well how he reacted when thunder and lightening were occuring.  He had flashbacks to his time in battle and it upset him very much.  He had been injured  in his elbow and knee and carried the pain and scars all his life.  Frank went on to work excellent positions in the coal mining industry throughout WV.  He was a boss at Goodwill and later Mining Superintendent  at Cooperton at the time of his death from a heart attack at the early age of  55.  He was well liked by his peers.  His funeral was so heavily attended there was standing room only.

Bronze Star          Purple Heart

Bronze Star Ribbon         Presidental Citation Ribbon         Purple Heart Ribbon