James Henry Mills

Who was James Henry Mills?

James Henry Mills was the only Polk County, Florida native to receive the Medal of Honor in World War II. He joined the Army from his birth city in September 1943. Private Mills earned the Medal of Honor in 1944 for demonstrating "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." Mills actions allowed his platoon to take its objective without casualties.

Mills lost his life twenty-nine years later at the hands of a thief posing as a stranded motorist, whom Mills had stopped to assist, near Gainesville, Florida on November 11, 1973. He was laid to rest at Oak Hill Burial Park Cemetery in Lakeland, Florida.