Jerome Mitchell “Mitch”

Veteran's Day is a day to remember those who have fought for our freedom. Jerome Mitchell, or “Mitch” as he likes to be called, is just one of the million veterans that we want to honor this holiday.

Residing in Chicago, IL up until 1939 when he moved to Rockford, Mitch was always the life of the party. After high school, Mitch decided to join the Army and was shipped to Berlin, Germany. During his time overseas, Mitch worked at Spandau Prison as a guard for infamous prisoner of war “Rudolph Hess”, who was third in command under Hitler. Mitch recalls, “I held many conversations with Hess and he seemed to be a pretty normal guy. He did however tell me that he knew he got himself into the wrong line of work.”

According to Mitch, Spandau Prison was bigger than West High School in Rockford, IL and yet only held one inmate, who was Rudolph Hess. Mitch was one of the eight guards who took turns keeping an eye out for Hess as they rotated shifts. The one day that Mitch was off work, Hess was found in a summer garden house, located in a secure area of the prison, with an electrical cord wrapped around his neck. His death was ruled to be a suicide, but according to Mitch, “Hess had severe arthritis and couldn’t even lift his hands above his head, so there is no way he could have done that to himself. “

After five years of serving his country in the Army, Mitch came home to the United States, but remained in contact with friends as well as his girlfriend, Ignapor.  He missed his life in Berlin and decided to work his way back overseas by bargaining with an attendant of a cargo ship. With a risky job at hand, he was hired on board to paint the outside of the ship when necessary by standing on a scaffold. After his 6 week journey in the ocean, he finally arrived in Berlin. When he got there, he bought himself a Volkswagen and hit the town with his girl friend Ignapor.

Mitch has been married two times since then and has two stepchildren. Now in his 70’s, Mitch enjoys living at Amberwood Care Centre and says his secret to Longevity is “taking one day at a time." 

Thank you Mitch for your service to our Country, and for sharing your story!