Neal Mitchell laid to rest

SMYRNA — Friends and family members of the late Raymond Neal Mitchell III remembered the 21-year-old Smyrna native and soldier as friendly, fearless and a competitor.

Spc. Mitchell, who was killed Jan. 6 by ambush fire while on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq, was buried Monday at Mapleview Cemetery in Smyrna with full military honors.

Mitchell was a specialist in the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army. He was killed a week after celebrating his 21st birthday.

"Neal gave great hugs," said Joyce Mitchell, his grandmother.

Born in Smyrna, Mitchell spent most of his childhood in Aurora, Colo., and in 2002 went to live with grandparents in West Memphis, Ark., during his junior year of high school. His grandparents, Raymond and Joyce Mitchell, are originally from Smyrna.

"Neal brought pride to my name because he did a job for the benefit of every person in this country and he laid down his life," said Raymond Mitchell Sr. about his grandson.

Childhood friend Chris House of Colorado said Mitchell's tenacity in military life started in the playground as they played laser tag.

"Neal was a little guy, but he was a giant. He was fearless because he was just a competitor, just strong and that's what makes him a giant on the inside," said House.

Sgt. Matthew Brennan attended Tuesday's funeral and said Mitchell was a rifleman and worked in the dismounted patrol, where he and others would walk the streets of Iraq and talk with local citizens.

"He (Mitchell) was very friendly toward the locals and he knew a lot about his equipment," Brennan recalled.

Two of Mitchell's teachers from West Memphis Christian School who attended Tuesday's funeral said he had a rocky academic start at the Arkansas school, but he turned around.

"Neal was having some academic difficulties, but never gave up," said Lynnette Bankstone, who tutored Mitchell in Algebra II when he first moved to Arkansas.

Matt Daigle, who was one of his classmates at West Memphis Christian, said Mitchell kept to himself when he first arrived in Arkansas but later broke out of his shell.

"Neal was not selfish with his life," said Daigle.

Jon Jackson, another West Memphis Christian classmate, said Mitchell had a great sound system in his old Cadillac.

"We had a lot in common (because) we both liked to drive fast," said Jackson.

Raymond Mitchell Jr., the soldier's father, said his son lived fearlessly.

"He was planning on coming back (and going) back to college to play baseball," said Raymond Mitchell Jr.

Raymond Mitchell Jr. said the last time he saw his son was when he drove him to the airport on Dec. 6 after a two-week furlough for Thanksgiving and assured his father that he would be OK.

"Neal was not afraid because in battle you are full of adrenaline and you have to know what to do," he said.

From the News Journal

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