Commemorating Sacrifice
Two names added to USAID Memorial Wall to honor colleagues who died in the line of duty
USAID recognized the ultimate sacrifice made by two colleagues in the line of duty, memorializing them in a ceremony to add their names to the USAID Memorial Wall.
Mark Mitchell and Edward Hines each served USAID in careers separated by almost half a century. On May 29, both were honored by their families, USAID leadership, and colleagues.
In his remarks, USAID Administrator Mark Green, referencing a quote by Teddy Roosevelt, said:
“We do the work that is worth doing. But it is not without personal cost. The hours are long. It requires travel that takes staff away from their friends and family, sometimes for weeks at a time. And they often find themselves in difficult and dangerous places.
Despite these challenges, the men and women of USAID serve our country with bravery and distinction. Sadly, some pay the ultimate price for their service, for their selfless commitment to making the world a better place.”
Prior to joining USAID, Mitchell served in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of captain. Later, he worked with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to help educate inmates who sought to turn their lives around. His public service continued with the Defense Intelligence Agency, where he served in Iraq and sub-Saharan Africa.
Mitchell joined USAID as a Foreign Service Officer in 2009, working first in Brazil, then Djibouti and Afghanistan, before starting his final tour in Georgia in 2015.
In Georgia, Mitchell tragically lost his life in an automobile accident in May 2018.
At the ceremony, friends and family recalled Mitchell’s kindness, compassion, and his fierce commitment to the work of USAID. They also recalled his good humor, dedication, warmth, and fondness for planting trees both in his adopted Brazil and his home neighborhood in Portland.
“I know that Mark lives on in the results of his dedicated work for his country,” said Mitchell’s husband, Paulo Mendonça.
Edward Hines joined USAID after 20 years of service to his country in the U.S. Army, was decorated for combat service during World War II, and ultimately retired having attained the rank of major.
In 1967 he joined USAID and soon volunteered to go to Vietnam during the war to serve as a procurement officer.
He perished in 1972 in a plane crash while traveling between Laos and Vietnam.
At the ceremony, Hines’s youngest daughter, Jean Hines Marcuzzo, spoke about his dedication to others and to his principles. She recalled how as a volunteer firefighter in Colorado Springs, Hines helped the fire service procure its first fire truck, and then went to Detroit to help drive the fire truck to Colorado.
“This was the kind of person he was,” she said. “His actions always exemplified what he believed.”
The untimely deaths of these two committed servants bear witness to the heroism shared by all men and women who have worked to assist their fellow man despite real risks, and remind us of the bravery that many USAID colleagues display every day in the course of their regular duties in many of the world’s most challenging environments.
About the Author
Justin Prudhomme is a Strategic Communications Adviser at USAID.
