Muller, Pvt. Harold William 1921-1942

MULLER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/21/2014 at 19:40:04

Whittemore Boy Was Victim
Harold Wm. Muller Killed in Action in New Guinea in December.

The Whittemore Champion announces in this week’s issue that Harold Wm. Muller, son of Mrs. Grace Muller of Whittemore, was killed in New Guinea December 31, 1942. Harold enlisted in the U. S. Army on January 1, 1942, as a volunteer. He spent four months in training at Camp Roberts, Cal., and from that place was sent to Australia with one of the first units to go to the South Pacific. He never had furlough since he left his home in Whittemore.

Harold is survived by his mother; two sisters, Mrs. Herman Thilges and Mrs. Harlan Will, and by two brothers, Cletus Muller of Kansas City and James Muller of Whittemore.

Harold W. Muller was born on the Muller farm southwest of Whittemore on March 20, 1921. He attended Presentation Academy and grew to manhood in his home community.

This morning at nine o’clock memorial services are being held in St. Michael’s Catholic church in Whittemore. The pastor, Rev. Wm. Veit, officiated at a requiem high Mass. The students of Presentation Academy and the Seely-Walsh post of the American Legion attended in a body. Following the Mass, Peter Schumacher, sergeant-at-arms, conducted the military service. The firing squad consisted of Ed Wichtendahl, Leo J. Elbert, Harry Seely, Elmer Elbert, August Meyer, Nick Reding and John Steier. Color bearers were Elmer Bell and Albert Meyer; color guards, Louis Priester and Martin Bonnstetter; and buglers, Kenneth Rusch, Tom Rochford and Simon Weydert.

Source: Emmetsburg Democrat, January 28, 1943
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YANKS

S. Sgt Cletus Muller arrived home from Germany last week with a discharge. An engineer with a bombing squadron, Cletus has the Purple Heart. His older brother, Pvt. Harold Muller, was the first Whittemore man to be killed in action in the Pacific in December ’42. Several soldier friends of Harold’s visited his grave, which they described as being in a beautifully kept cemetery in New Guinea.

Source: Emmetsburg Democrat, December 27, 1945
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BODIES OF IOWA VETS RETURNED
North Iowans Among Yanks on Transport
 


Remains of 4,459 Americans who lost their lives during World War II are being returned to San Francisco from Manila aboard the United States Army Transport Lt. George W. G. Boyce, the department of the army announced Monday.
 


Armed forces dead originally interred in temporary military cemeteries in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands are among those being brought to this country. 
 


A total of 110 remains are being returned upon instructions of next of kin residing in Iowa.
 


North Iowans in the list include the following:
Pvt. Harold W. Muller, Whittemore.

Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, June 1, 1948
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RITES HELD FOR WHITTEMORE VET

Whittemore—Military rites were held here Thursday for Pvt. Harold Muller, whose body was returned from New Guinea. He was one of the first Americans to die in the South Pacific. He was killed in action Dec. 31, 1942.

Harold Muller was the son of Mrs. Grace Muller. He was born on a farm near Whittemore in 1921 and grew up in this community.

Surviving are his mother, 2 sisters, Mrs. Harley Will, Mrs. Herman Thilges; 2 brothers, Cletus and James, all of Whittemore.

Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, July 10, 1948