MUELLER, Kenneth L., Corp. 1895-1918

MUELLER, DEAN, JOYCE

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 9/8/2010 at 17:08:03

Waterloo Evening Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
21 Oct 1918
Page 8

K. L. Mueller Dies In France

Waterloo Boy Succumbs to Wounds Received in Action; Enlisted Here in 1917.

Corp. Kenneth L. Mueller, Co. G, 168th U. S. infantry, died in a base hospital in France Sept. 24 from wounds received in action, the war department informs his mother, Mrs. Sarah E. Mueller, 1203 Commercial street, in a telegram received Saturday afternoon.

Corp. Mueller, who was born in Waterloo, Oct. 23, 1895, and received his education in schools of west district, enlisted as a member of Co. G in Waterloo March 31, 1917, and went to Des Moines when the company was called into federal service. He was among the men drawn from the company to fill the 168th infantry to war strength and went to France with the Rainbow division, Nov. 23, 1917. At the time of his enlistment he was employed at the S. H. Pinkerton grocery, where he had been a clerk for a number of years. Corp. Mueller was a member of First Methodist Episcopal church.

He is survived by his mother, two brothers, Second Lieut. Roger R. Mueller, A. E. F., and Harry, this city; three sisters, Mrs. Claude C. Dean, Maude and Georgia, all residing here.

Two letters from Corp. Mueller, written Sept. 3 and 6, respectively, recently received by his mother, tell her that he is resting with his company back of the fighting front, the men being comfortably quartered in tents. Many of the soldiers of Co. G who had been wounded early in the summer had returned to active service, he said, and were feeling fine. He refers to his birthday as being near, but says that, despite his experiences in the year just past, he feels no older.
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Waterloo Evening Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
22 Oct 1918
Page 8

Corp. Mueller Left Beautiful Memento; Tribute to Mother

When Corp. Kenneth Mueller, Co. G, 168th infantry, wrote the last letter received by his mother, Mrs. Sarah E. Mueller, before news of his death from wounds came, he was anticipating the celebration of his twenty-third birthday. Back in a rest camp after taking part in the fierce engagements of the Rainbow division during the summer, he lightly referred to his past year's experiences and the fact that he felt no older. Four days before the anniversary news of his death reached the mother.

The young soldier's tribute to his mother is expressed in the following verses which he enclosed in the letter.

Mother.

And here's a line to mother,
The best of all the lot.
With a simple little message,
Just a sweet forget-me-not.
It's sent to her from some one,
Sealed with a kiss of love.
To wish her joy and comfort,
And blessings from above.

May it find her well and happy,
As the morn I went away.
May it make her burden lighter,
As she works from day to day.
May it chase away the wrinkles,
From her apt-to-worry brow.
And keep that smile a smiling,
'Til we've finished up this row.

There's a brighter day acoming,
For us, and those back home.
There's ships of joy and happiness,
To sail us o'er the foam.
And sights will be most wonderful,
As loved ones greet each other.
But none will be so tenderly,
When sonny meets his mother.
--R. V. Brady.

Corp. Mueller was a member of Waterloo Musician's union No. 334, which has enrolled 28 members in the service. This was the first death recorded in the number.
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Waterloo Evening Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
24 Dec 1918
Page 3

Death of Hero Described by His Comrades

Mortally wounded on the field of battle, Corporal Kenneth Mueller calmly assisted in his own care and awaited death with a heroism that will place a lasting halo over his memory by all who knew him. Letters, written by a comrade and his captain, describing in detail the manner of his death, have been received by his mother and relatives here.

Sergt. John J. Joyce, of Waterloo, writes as follows:

"Kenneth received the wound that caused his death on the second day of the St. Mihiels drive, just as we reached our final objective. He was in charge of an automatic rifle squad to the first wave of the attack and was hit in the right cheek by a machine gun bullet while getting his rifles placed preparatory to firing into a group of retreating Germans. We had just emerged from a strip of woods into a raise of clear ground when the Germans were discovered marching down a road a short distance in front of us. Everyone dropped to the ground in order to open fire as well as to avoid being caught in the fire of enemy machine guns. Kenneth did not succeed in reaching the ground before a gun on the right hit him.

"He took his wound as a matter of course, even helping to apply the bandage. In fact, from his actions, we did not think his wound was a serious one. He walked to the edge of the woods, where some of the fellows were making a stretcher out of two long poles and a blanket and sat down beside them until they got it completed. He was carried to the dressing station on this by four German machine gunners whom we captured just after he was hit. He died a few days after, being cheerful to the last, according to reports of two fellows who were wounded at the same time and accompanied him to the hospital.

"His loss is keenly felt by us all, as he was liked by everyone and always conducted himself like a soldier and a gentleman. The entire company mourns his loss and extends sympathy to your family.

"Trafford Heston was wounded slightly at Chateau Thierry, but has fully recovered and I understand that he has returned to his company. He spent a day with Kenneth and me in Champagne and was cheerful and jolly as ever.

"As you know the war is about over and we are giving the Germans a few days to evacuate all invaded territory, after which we expect to spend a few days in Germany before returning home, at which time I can give you a full account of Kenneth's death."
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From the captain of Company G, 168 Inf., comes the following tribute:

"Long before this you will have been informed of the death of your son, Kenneth, on Sept. 24.

"As Kenneth's company commander, I am taking this opportunity of writing you a few words of sympathy from the men and officers of company G.

"I realize that nothing I can say will lessen your burden, but I know that you must look with pride for having made such a sacrifice for democracy and world peace, which has at last come.

"On Sept. 13 I, with Kenneth's platoon, emerged from the same woods and came upon about 40 Germans walking down a road. We at once attempted to capture them, when some boche machine guns on our right opened up on us, causing us all to lie down in shell holes and anywhere we could find. Kenneth, with a few others, was unfortunate in that he was hit in the cheek by a machine gun bullet. He was immediately taken care of and rushed to the hospital, where he received every possible care, but was unable to stand the shock, and passed away Sept. 24.

"Kenneth was well liked by us all and always had a smile for everyone. I am proud to have had him in my company and should he have lived he would now be in officers' training school.

"The hospital in which Kenneth died is known as No. 68, and is located at Mars-sur-Allier, which is near Nevers.

"I trust the above information may be of some comfort to you. If there is anything else I can do for you, simply ask me.
"Yours respectfully,
"Captain of Co. G, 168th Inf.

(Contributor note: Kenneth L. Mueller is buried in Plot A, Row 21, Grave 3, St. Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt France. - J.C.)