Neal Mitchell remembered

When a hero was killed in Iraq, a family was wounded.

The Department of Defense announced Wednesday that Specialist Raymond Neal Mitchell III, who had lived in West Memphis and Marion, died Saturday in Baghdad when insurgents fired on his patrol unit that provided security on a well-traveled route. He was 21.

His birthday was five days before he died, his family said.
"We found out Sunday morning before daylight at about 5:30. The Army came to our door and told us that our grandson had been killed in small-arms fire in Baghdad Saturday," said his grandmother, Joyce Mitchell of Winchester, Tenn.

"We are so overwhelmed with grief that this is almost more than we can stand," she added. "I'll be sweeping the floor or something and all of a sudden I'm just stabbed with this grief."

He had lived with her and his grandfather since he was a junior at West Memphis Christian School. The family had owned Best Holiday Trav-L-Park campsite in Marion. They sold the business about four years ago and moved to West Memphis until he graduated in 2004. The family then moved to Winchester, and Raymond began attending Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

In 2005 he joined the Army from a West Memphis recruiting office. It was probably for the honor of serving, his grandmother said.

"He was just proud. I wish you could have seem him smile when he finished basic training at Fort Benning," she said.

He became an infantryman stationed at Fort Drum, N.Y. His unit was sent to Iraq in August and based in Baghdad. She said he was a point man, a lookout ahead of the patrol.

She remembers asking him why he had to be a point man. "He said, 'I'm not the best shot. But I'm the fastest.'"

He was last home for the Thanksgiving holiday and visited family in Winchester and friends in West Memphis. He returned to Iraq on Dec. 6.

His grandmother said he had already received the National Defense Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Combat Infantryman Badge. But Army officials told her that he would also receive a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Raymond also leaves his mother, Carolyn Mitchell of Bellevue, Tenn.; his father, Raymond N. Mitchell Jr. of Fairview, Tenn.; and a sister, Caroline Mitchell of Fairview.

"We were so proud of him," Joyce Mitchell said. "He really is our little hero."

Graveside services with military honors will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Mapleview Cemetery in Smyrna, Tenn. Woodfin Funeral Chapel in Smyrna has charge.

The family requests that memorials be sent to West Memphis Christian School.

From the Commercial Appeal

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Neal (Raymond N.) Mitchell slain by sniper