Mitchell left university to enlist during the Spanish-American War in 1898. His father's influence helped him gain a Signal Corps commission after service in the Philippines. Between 1900 and 1904 he worked on the Washington-Alaska military cable and telegraph system. A posting to the Army Signal School at Fort Leavenworth followed in 1906. His aviation advocacy thus grew out of a career in military communications and technical organization.
Chapter · 37:59-40:45
Mitchell's early career before the air-power fight
Mitchell's service in the Spanish-American War, Signal Corps commission, and Alaska cable work preceded his advocacy of aviation.