Eugene Mithlo Water Point - Fort Sill, OK, USA - Citizen Memorials on Waymarking.com

The place:
A potable water point where Soldiers can refill their canteens while training under the hot sun. It is located near the intersection of Mow-Way Road and MacKenzie Hill Road. There is a memorial stone marker that reads:

Eugene Mithlo Sr.
January 1946-January 2009
This water point provides water to all units training at Fort Sill

Mr. Mithlo was born January 6, 1946 in Lawton Oklahoma and was a member of the Comanche Nation. He graduated from Apache High School Apache, OK and attended Haskell University until he was drafted into the Army in October 1966. Specialist Mithlo was a heavy weapons infantryman. He served in Vietnam from April 1967 to April 1968 as a member of a 5-man 81mm mortal crew and was based at Bearcat Firebase with C Company 2/47th Infantry of the 9th Infantry Division (Mechanized). Specialist Mithlo fought in four campaigns. His awards include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with 4 bronze service stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 device, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm, both individual and unit awards. Mr. Mithlo was an active member of the “Civa” Comanche Indian Veterans Association. Mr. Mithlo started his career as a Department of the Army civilian on Jan 3rd, 1969. He was the head of roads division supporting Fort Sill. Mr. Mithlo’s reputation is one of a man who got the job accomplished and served Fort Sill continuously with 40 years of dedicated service supporting the needs of Fort Sill and soldiers.

In a way, Eugene Mithlo is still supporting Fort Sill and the soldiers.

The person:
Mr. Mithlo was born January 6, 1946, in Lawton, Oklahoma. He graduated from Apache High School, Apache, Oklahoma. He was attending Haskell University when he was drafted in the Army in October 1966. He served until October 1968 earning the rank of Specialist Four. He took his basic combat and advanced individual training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Specialist Mithlo was a Heavy Weapons Infantryman. He arrived in Vietnam in April 1967 and returned to Fort Benning, Georgia in April 1968. While in Vietnam, he was based at Bearcat Firebase with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry of the 9th Infantry Division (Mechanized). Specialist Mithlo was a member of a 5-man 81mm mortar crew. He fought in four campaigns - Counteroffensive Phases II, III, IV, and the TET Counteroffensive. From 1967 until the 2-47th returned to the United States in 1970 they suffered 197 killed in action as they fought pitched, blood battles in places known as the Ho-Bo Woods, the Iron Triangle, Parrots Beak, the Tiger's Lair, Widow's Village to name a few. His awards include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm both individual and unit awards. He is survived by his wife, Audrey Mithlo, five children and spouses: Eugene Mithlo, Jr., and Sandra; Rickie Mithlo; Russell Mithlo, Sr., and Etheline; Loretta Mithlo and Francis Dolan; Andrew Mithlo and Diana; 13 grandchildren; four brothers and spouses; Kenneth Chasenah; Harry Mithlo and Juanita; Bill Mithlo and Maria; Melvin Mithlo and Hilda; three sisters and spouses: Leatrice Jay, Elvina Poolaw and Bryce; LaVera Birdshead and Saul; one aunt, Lottie Simmons; two uncles: Oris Chasenah, Earl Chasenah. Mr. Mithlo started his career as a Department of the Army civilian on January 3, 1969 as a Public Works laborer earning $2.44 an hour. For the next 32 years Gene held various positions within the Public Words Directorate supporting roads, grounds, training ranges, and wildlife habitat. When Public Works transitioned to contract maintenance under A-76, Gene took an optional retirement from federal service to continue his support to Fort Sill as a contract employee in June 2001. Gene worked continuously supporting Fort Sill under three different maintenance contractors. At the time of his death on January 25, 2009, Gene was the head of roads division for VT Griffin supporting Fort Sill.

Location: Just north of the intersection of Mow-Way Road and MacKenzie Hill Road on Fort Sill. Website with more information on either the memorial or the person(s) it is dedicated to: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/09/2014 TheRadcliffs visited it