Billy Mitchell Research Paper

In 1898, a movement towards war with Spain was filling the minds of Americans. Some in Congress urged against war, one being Billy’s father John Mitchell (Davis). However, after the sinking of the battleship Maine near Havana there was little use resisting the inevitable war with Spain. Young Billy Mitchell was in the gallery of the U.S. Senate when the resolution of war was passed. Billy was now eighteen and he quickly packed his bag with the intent to join his father’s old regiment in Wisconsin. Upon the return of John Mitchell to Wisconsin the family was surprised when John gave his consent for Billy to join the war, remarking at the time he would rather have men fight who were under twenty then over forty (Miller). As Billy left for Florida to embark on a twenty-eight-year career in the Army. Alone the way he will create one of the biggest controversies in the Army, most of which were the results of his drive to change the way future wars are fought. …show more content…
His knowledge and aptitude with both horses and a rifle were greatly admired by his superiors (Miller). Billy had a desire to be in the cavalry, but the signal corp. offered a higher rank, so Billy accepted the offer to remain in the signal corp. Continuing in the Army was not the choice of his parent because being in the Army was viewed as below his class. However, Billy insisted and this was a wonderful choice as it relates to the Army and his career. Billy Mitchell became a strong leader and showed exceptional skill as an Army signal corp. officer while in the Philippines and during his long stay in Alaska where he demonstrated ingenuity and strong work ethics when he strung 2000 miles of wire to complete the Alaskan telegraph system