Many soldiers from WWII returned home safely thanks to Burton Mitchell's knowledge and bravery. At Union Carbide Company's Development Lab in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Mitchell, who had graduated from the University of New Hampshire in chemistry, was part of a team in a secret defense project that resulted in the development of the proximity (VT) fuse. But Mr. Mitchell's war-time contribution was not relegated just to the laboratory. He then supervised the introduction of the VT fuzes in Europe, first in London and along the coast of England. It is the VT fuse, used in anti-aircraft artillery, that is credited with lifting the siege of London by the German V-1 bombs, bringing down 80% of these bombs. He next was in charge of maintaining the artificial harbor being set up within days of the beginning of the D-Day invasion at Normandy and then supervised the introduction of the VT fuses in field artillery. One of his citations notes that he often worked under heavy fire and also states that the defense of Antwerp succeeded "through this officer's personal interest and vigorous activity" in employing the VT fuse "so effectively against the V-I attack." For his "temporary duty" work Captain Mitchell received the Legion of Merit, an Army Commendation Ribbon, the Bronze Star, and three Battle Stars. After the war, Mr. Mitchell returned to Union Carbide, eventually retiring in 1976 as Manager of International Engineering, a position that required him to travel to and advise Union Carbide locations world-wide. Mr. Mitchell currently lives in Florida with his wife Kay.

See a list of past recipients