Moellers, John A. -- 1921 - 1945

MOELLERS, BENGFORT

Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 6/22/2012 at 13:12:08

Pfc. John A. Moellers, 24, is killed in Action on Okinawa; Memorial Services to be Monday.

Another young Ossian man has lost his life while in the defense of his country.

He is Pfc. John A. Moellers, son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Moellers, prominent farmers living five miles southwest of Ossian. Mr. and Mrs. Moellers received the sad information Monday morning in a telegram from the secretary of war office. The telegram read:

“The secretary of war desires me to express his deep regret that your son Pfc. John A. Moellers, was killed in action on Okinawa May 1, 1945. Confirming letter follows.” The message was signed by also the Adjutant General.

Mr. and Mrs. Moellers had not heard from their son for several weeks and as he was faithful in writing regularly they had a premonition that something had happened to him.

He had been on Okinawa for about two months. In a letter written April 5, he advised them of his location. They last heard from him in a letter written April 26.

His last visit at home was last year in July. After reporting back to Camp Beale, Calif. He was sent overseas. He took part in the battles of New Caledonia, New Guinea and the Philippines.

Memorial services will be conducted in honor of Pfc. John A. Moellers Monday at 9 a. m. by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Rev. M. J. Thiltgen in the St. Francis de Sales church.

John A. Moellers was 24 years old. He was born on the Moellers farm April 27, 1921 and attended St Francis de Sales Catholic School in Ossian. He graduated from this school in 1940.

Best known over Winneshiek county among 4-H members and leaders, John’s five year 4-H career was packed full of achievement.

In 1938 his second year of 4-H work, he was elected county vice president and the same year served as secretary of his local club, the Military Jr. Farmers. In 1939, after (here the bottom of the letter must have been cut) ..... 4 H. .... My Father Should keep Brown Swiss Cattle” for the honer which was in a contest sponsored by Wallaces Farmer and the National Purebred dairy association. John received a purebred Brown Swiss bull on the steps of the state capitol by Gov. George Wilson.

Through his 4-H club activities he became interested in livestock and in the fall of 1941, with the aid of a scholarship he entered Iowa State College at Ames to study Animal Husbandry. He later enrolled in the veterinary medicine division. In 1943, he was graduated from the Army specialized training program after which he enlisted in the regular army and for a time received training at Camp Grant ILL, and later was stationed as a member of the medical corps at Walter Reed hospital at Washington D. C.

At the time of his death he was in the medical detachment of the seventh U. S. division.

Surviving are his parents, four brothers and two sisters – Edna, Mrs. Ervin Bengfort, Clair, Arthur, Reginald and Helen of Ossian and Pvt. Ralph Moellers, who is stationed at Camp Walters, Texas.

source: Display case in the lobby of the Ossian Public Library

St. Francis de Sales cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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