Sgt. R. T. Fuhlman Dies in France, Mother Is Told
Sgt. Ralph T Fuhlman, 23, died in France on Sept. 25, according to a telegram received this morning by his mother, Mrs. Lillian Fuhlman, 514 East Fourth street.
Sgt. Fuhlman entered the service in November of 1942 and took his training at Camp Adair, Ore., and Camp Carson, Colo. He went overseas in September of this year.
Sgt. Fuhlman’s last letter was received by his mother Monday in which he told her he was all right and not to worry. In the communication he made plans for operating an oil station when he returned and of saving his money for this venture.
The message telling of Sgt. Fuhlman’s death did not reveal whether he died from wounds or from an illness and his letter did not mention his taking part in any battles.
Sgt. Fuhlman was born in Muscatine on Dec. 18, 1920, and had spent his entire life here. He had been employed at Eddie’s D-X service station on Mulberry avenue before entering the service. He was a member of the Moose lodge.
Surviving are his mother, his father, Fritz Fulman, East Front street; one sister, Pearl L. Fuhlman, at home; two brothers, Pvt. Raymond A. Fuhlman, with the Marine corps somewhere in the South Pacific, and Pfc. Clayton F. Fuhlman, stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, October 6, 1944 (photo included)
Memorial Rites Are Planned for Sgt. Fuhlman
Special memorial services to be held in conjunction with the morning worship at 10:45 Sunday at the United Brethren Church will pay tribute to Sgt. Ralph T. Fuhlman, 23, who died in France on Sept. 25. The Rev. P. M. Conant will give the memorial sermon.
Pfc. Clayton F. Fuhlman, stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., brother of Sgt. Fuhlman, is spending a furlough with his mother, Mrs. Lillian Fuhlman, 514 East Fourth street, and will attend the services.
Patriotic organizations are invited to attend.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, October 20, 1944
TRIBUTE PAID TO SGT. FUHLMAN AT MEMORIAL
Speaking of the privilege of religion as one of “Our Greatest Natural Resources” and a privilege and resource used again and again by men on the battle fronts, the Rev. P. M. Conant offered the memorial sermon honoring Sgt. Ralph T. Fuhlman, killed in action in France on Sept. 25, at the services Sunday morning at the United Brethren Church.
The Rev. Conant reviewed briefly Sgt. Fuhlman’s record since he entered the Army in November of 1942, and met his death while on duty with the anti-tank force of the 415th infantry in France four weeks ago, and added that he had been a sergeant, a leader of men, and had possed the qualities found in a leader.
“Another life has been given in sacrifice for his country and for the best interest of the world,” he said. “Sergeant Fuhlman and many others in this war and in the World War I have died for this cause.” He then read the resolution from the last paragraph of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, “That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”
In this connection he asked those at home to consider their duty and suggested the Bible verse, Psalms 127:1, as a challenge, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” “Let us give God and his plans a place in our lives,” the Rev. Conant said, “not simply a small place but let them be the dominant forces in our lives.”
Sgt. Fuhlman was the son of Mrs. Lillian Fuhlman, 514 East Fourth street. He has two brothers, Pvt. Raymond A. Fuhlman, with the Marines somewhere in the South Pacific, and Pfc. Clayton F. Fuhlman, stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., who was home for the memorial services.
The service, which was held in conjunction with the regular morning worship at the church, was attended by the following patriotic organizations: Women’s Relief Corps, Daughters of Union Veterans, Spanish American War Auxiliary, J. H. Kemble post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the VFW Auxiliary.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, October 23, 1944
WARTIME LISTS OF KILLED IN ACTION
BRING TRAGEDY TO ADDITONAL HOMES
Year End Review Edition
Sorrowful news, in the form of messages advising the next of kin of the death of a loved one somewhere in the service of their nation, came to an increasing number of homes in Muscatine and vicinity during 1944 as the country’s military operations against enemies on World war No. 2 proceeded on an accelerated pace. Emphasis upon the tremendous cost of warfare in human lives was called in repeated instances, by official messages, relating that men from this community had made the supreme sacrifice while following the flag with the respective branches of the armed services. News dispatches from the scenes of history –making engagements recorded in the third year of this nation’s participation in war were followed, in the course of a brief lapse of time, and with distressing regularity, by official notification to the effect that someone from this community was included among those who had given their lives.
But brief bits of information were available, in most instances, for the bereaved relatives of servicemen whose deaths were written into the record during this third year of the war. The date, the theater of action, perchance a note to the effect that the serviceman had been buried in an American cemetery abroad- and but little more were ordinarily included. Subsequently, in instances, letter from companions in service, or others in close association, gave additional details. For some, whose death occurred while in service in this country, funeral services were conducted when bodies were returned to the home community for burial. For others, who died on foreign soil, memorial services were conducted at various churches of their affliction.
Community memorial services, honoring those whose lives were given in the service of their country were conducted at the Muscatine high school auditorium Sunday, Nov. 26, with representatives of various pastoral organizations participating establishing a custom of holding on the last Sunday afternoon of each month, similar memorial service for the community’s war heroes.
Brief sketches of those who gave their lives in the service of their country since the outbreak of the war, compiled from causality list and information obtained from relatives follow:
SGT. RALPH T. FUHLMAN—Sgt. Fuhlman died in France on Sept. 25, 1944, his mother, Mrs. Lillian Fuhlman, 514 East Fourth street, was advised. He entered service in November, 1942, and took his training at Camp Adair, Ore., and Camp Carson, Colo. He went overseas in September 1944.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Year End Edition, Friday, December 29, 1944 (photo included)
Soldier’s Medal Will Be Awarded Posthumously to Sgt. Ralph T. Fuhlman
The Soldier’s Medal, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life, has been posthumously awarded Sgt. Ralph T. Fuhlman of the U. S. Army infantry, who died in France on Sept. 25, 1944, his mother, Mrs. Lillian Fuhlman, 514 East Fourth street, has been informed by the War Department.
The citation accompanying the medal is as follows:
“For heroism involving voluntary risk of life, on Sept. 25, 1944. Sgt. Fuhlman, having personally escaped from in or near a burning German pillbox which was filled with live ammunition and explosives and which had been accidently ignited by means undetermined at a time when several soldiers were inside, calling instructions to a fleeing, burning comrade to ‘roll over’ and himself fearlessly and upon his own volition, without regard for his own safety, did, in an effort to save the lives of his comrades trapped within, attempted to enter the fiercely burning pillbox which was expected to explode at any moment. As a result of this courageous action he lost his life in the subsequent explosion which occurred shortly thereafter.
“Sgt. Fuhlman’s courageous action served as an impressive example, and at the cost of his life, demonstrated the highest type of soldierly qualities in carrying out a voluntary mission of mercy in the face of great danger.”
The message accompanying the citation stated that the decoration was being forwarded to the Seventh Service Command in Omaha, Neb., where a presentation would be made.
Mrs. Fuhlman has received the Purple Heart Medal awarded her son.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, March 22, 1945
140 Have Made Supreme Sacrifice in Muscatine Area In War Against Axis Powers; Many Reported Wounded
The names of those who have made the supreme sacrifice in World War No. 2, compiled from records maintained by The Journal follow:
Sgt. Ralph T. Fuhlman, 23, son of Mrs. Lillian Fuhlman, 514 East Fourth street, killed in action Sept. 25, 1944, in France.
Source: Muscatine Journal, Victory in Europe Edition, May 7, 1945
Solemn Procession Continues Through 1948 as War Dead Are Returned Home
Flag-draped caskets, coming from the European and Pacific war theaters, were brought to Muscatine county and other neighboring communities at intervals throughout the year of 1948 as the solemn procession of the country’s war dead continued to move home.
As each casket carrying a soldier, sailor, marine or flier who died during World War II was returned, last honors were accorded to the servicemen at funeral and burial rites. Final interment was in the cemetery chosen by his next-of-kin.
This year was the second for the government’s program of returning the bodies of war dead to the United States for burial in keeping with the wishes of their family. Inaugurated in the fall of 1947, the program has to date seen the return from overseas cemeteries of more than 50 bodies of men from this vicinity who died in the service of their country during the war.
The list of war dead returned to Muscatine and surrounding counties includes the following:
Sgt. Ralph T. Fuhlman, son of Mrs. Lillian Fuhlman, 218 Lombard street, who lost his life in France on Sept. 25, 1944. Burial at Greenwood cemetery in Muscatine.
Source: The Muscatine Journal, December 30, 1948
