John joined the Navy when he was just 17 year old (lying about his age) and was stationed on the destroyer USS Herndon. On D-Day, the 6th of June, 1944, the USS Herndon was off Omaha Beach down in front of the first assault waves during the Invasion Of Normandy.
The Herndon High School Band (from Herndon, Virginia) took a memorial trip to Normandy France on the 75th Anniversary Of D-Day (June 6, 2019). They marched and performed in the parade at Omaha Beach and each band student wore a picture around his/her neck of a serviceman who was on the USS Herndon.
What an honor and a tribute to John Mitchell for his service to his country!