by Gayla Sue Mendez
Fourteen volunteers from Veterans Helping Veterans (VHV) recently built a wheelchair ramp for 87-year-old Jane Hollis, widow of Sgt. Eugene Emmett Mitchell, honoring her as a Gold Star widow.
Sgt. Mitchell served with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam and was killed-in-action (KIA) during Operation Paul Revere IV at the age of thirty-two. Nearly 60 years after Sgt. Mitchell’s death, his widow Jane now faces mobility challenges due to aging. The stairs outside her home had become an obstacle, so VHV stepped in to ensure this would no longer be a problem. Over the course of one day, the veteran volunteers constructed a deck and wheelchair ramp which now provides accessibility outside her home. Jane’s eldest daughter, Vickie Sutton, shared memories of the family’s life after Sgt. Mitchell’s death. Vickie remembers she was just 10 years old when her father was killed in action. Brothers Mike, Scott and Tony were 9, 7 and 4 years old, respectively.

Despite the immense loss, under their mama’s loving care, Vickie and her brothers moved on and credit the GI Bill for their opportunity to pursue higher education. Today, Vickie is a registered nurse, and her brothers have also built successful lives, all while honoring their father’s legacy.

Gold Star families, like the Hollis-Mitchell family, represent a group that has borne the ultimate sacrifice. During the Vietnam War, it is estimated that 20,000 American children lost their fathers − a sobering statistic that underscores the profound impact of the conflict on generations of families.

Four hundred of those children were in Alabama, and seven were from Scottsboro and Jackson County.

The ramp at Jane’s house stands not just as a practical structure but as a symbol of the community’s commitment to remembering those sacrifices. VHV is honored to continue building ramps and assisting local veterans and their families since 2017, with each project bringing a renewed sense of purpose and camaraderie to the volunteers. The ramp does not just serve as a physical structure; it is a promise fulfilled − a promise that the sacrifices and service of those like Sgt. Eugene Mitchell will never be forgotten, and that their families will always be cared for with honor and respect.

Honoring and remembering Gold Star families is an essential part of preserving the nation’s history. Veterans Helping Veterans remains steadfast in their mission to ensure that the sacrifices and legacies of these families are never forgotten. For the Hollis-Mitchell family, as well as countless others who endured the loss of loved ones during Vietnam, every gesture of remembrance holds deep significance. It is the American duty to care for those who are left behind when a service member is killed in action, as no compensation can truly equal that sacrifice. This is why we honor, remember, and cherish the living left behind. VHV is proud to be #StillServing. Learn more at Veterans Helping Veterans – VFW Post 6073.

About Sgt. Mitchell
Eugene Emmett Mitchell was born on December 3, 1933, in Scottsboro, Alabama, the fourth of six children raised by Emery and Goldie Mitchell. The Mitchells are deeply rooted in Jackson County, dating back to the 1830s. Mitchell volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division as a Light Weapons Infantryman. On November 21, 1966, just 49 days into his Vietnam tour, he was killed in action during Operation Paul Revere IV near the Cambodian border in Kontum Province. During a large-scale reconnaissance mission, his unit was ambushed by a superior enemy force. The engagement resulted in devastating losses − Third Platoon was nearly wiped out, and First Squad of Second Platoon was completely lost. Eugene was among the fallen. He was 32 years old. He is laid to rest in Cedar Hill Cemetery, remembered with a Purple Heart, and honored on Panel 12E, Line 103 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. His name also lives on at the Jackson County Veterans Memorial Park − a lasting tribute from the hometown that never forgot.