Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets graduate was killed Monday, Oct. 25, while serving in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Marine Capt. David Seth Mitchell, 30, was killed when his AH-IW SuperCobra collided with another helicopter.
In total, 14 Americans were killed Monday in the crashes. It was the deadliest day for American troops in Afghanistan for four years.
A wreath was placed in front of the War Memorial in a ceremony held by the Marine Raiders on Tuesday, and the American flag in the upper quad has been lowered to half-mast, said Col. Richard “Rock” Roszak, alumni director for the corps.
The corps had a moment of silence Tuesday morning during formation in Mitchell’s honor.
Mitchell, an executive officer of Golf Company during his senior year, is the fourth member of his class of 2001 to be killed since graduating.
He earned a degree in English, was active in the German Club, and participated as the class of 2001’s male member-at-large in the Ring Design Committee.
“It makes people in the corps refocus on the importance of what they’re preparing themselves for, and it gives them an opportunity to understand the importance of what they’re preparing themselves to do,” Roszak said.
Capt. James Snyder, deputy commandant of cadets, said that Mitchell’s name would be carved into the Ut Prosim pylon during the spring of next year. The tentative date set for the ceremony is April 7.
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