Mueller, Paul John.

Mueller, Paul John, born 16-11-1892, in Union, Franklin County, Missouri, USA, to Albert J Mueller (1863–1937) and his wife Rosa Belle Mehl (1873–1906). Paul had one brother and three sistyers, Emmert Albert Mueller (1895–Deceased), Helen E Mueller (1899–Deceased)  Mildred Mueller (1901–Deceased), Mary Dorothy Mueller (1903–1987). Paul married Margaret Martin, born Brown on 20-06-1923, in Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth, Kansas, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son, John Paul Mueller Jr. (1928-2001).

After attending the high school, Paul enrolled at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, in June 1911. Mueller graduated from the USMA four years later, in June 1915 together with other future generals as Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Nelson “Brad” Bradley, James Alward Van Fleet, Henry “Spiece” Aurand and Stafford LeRoy Irwin  (Mueller’s class has been referred to by historians as “the class the stars fell on”).

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Infantry Branch of the United States Army on that date. His first assignment was with the 21st Infantry Regiment, then stationed at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. He subsequently served with his regiment in San Diego, California and also participated in border patrol duty near Nogales, Arizona.

With the American entry into World War I, which occurred on 06-04-1917, Mueller was appointed a camp instructor at the Presidio of San Francisco. He was transferred to the 64th Infantry Regiment, part of the 13th Brigade of the 7th Division, at Fort Bliss, Texas for preparing to transfer to the main theater of war on the Western Front.

With the arrival to the Western Front in June 1918, Mueller was promoted, at the age of 25, to the rank of Major and appointed as commanding officer (CO) of the 1st Battalion of his regiment. He commanded the battalion during combat in Marbache Sector near the Moselle River. Mueller was also decorated with the Silver Star for bravery in action near the Bois de Puvenelle, 10-10-1918.

After World War I came to an end, on 11-11-1918, just five days before his 26th birthday, he returned with his regiment back to the United States in June 1919 and held numerous assignments to infantry commands, held staff positions and attended schools.

He was stationed with the 38th Infantry Regiment at Fort Douglas, Utah, until July 1930. From 1931 to 1934 he served with the War Plans Division on the General Staff of the War Department. In 1934 he joined the 29th Infantry Regiment, then serving at Fort Benning, Georgia and commanded the 2nd Battalion, later becoming regimental plans and training officer. He was soon promoted in 1941 to the one-star General officer rank of Brigadier General.

In August 1942, several months after the United States entered World War II, Mueller was given command of the 81st Infantry Division at Camp Rucker, Alabama, and was soon promoted to the two-star rank of Major General. The 81st, known as the Wildcat Division, had been commanded by Major General Gustave H. Franke   since its reactivation in June 1942. His Assistant Division Commander(ADC) was initially Brigadier General William R. Schmidt.   For the next two years Mueller moved the division to different training locations throughout the United States before it was deployed overseas to the Pacific in the summer of 1944.. Major General Mueller welcomes Admiral William Frederick “Bull” Halsey Jr. to Angaur after the occupation, 1945.

Mueller led the 81st Infantry Division into its first combat on 17-09-1944, during the Palau Islands campaign. While the majority of the 81st Division invaded Angaur Island, the 321st Regimental Combat Team (321st RCT) joined the 1st Marine Division  in its assault of Peleliu Island. The 321st RCT also assisted in capturing Ngesebus Island, Kongauru and Garakayo Islands. Operating under a naval task force, the 323rd RCT occupied Ulithi Atoll. He was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for this campaign.

Beginning in November 1944 and continuing into the new year, Major General Mueller and the 81st Division captured Pulo Anna Island, Kyangel Atoll, and Pais Island. After a break for rehabilitation and training, Mueller led the 81st to Leyte in May 1945 where they helped with mopping up operations until 12-08- 1945. On September 18, Major General Mueller began occupation duty with the 81st Division in Japan.

In January 1946, after the war ended, the 81st Division was deactivated and Mueller took over command of the 86th Infantry Division from January 1946 to April 1946, replacing Major General Harris M. Melasky. Major General Mueller commanded the 86th for a short time until relinquishing command to Major General Harry Fouds Hazlett.

After leaving the 86th Division, Mueller served as Chief of Staff to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Tokyo, Japan until 1949. Following this assignment he became the Deputy Commander of the Third Army from 1949 to 1950.

Death and burial ground of Mueller, Paul John.

His next assignment was as head of the Career Management Division. He continued in this assignment until his retirement from the army in September 1954, after almost 40 years. He died of a heart attack at his home in Washington, D.C., on  25-09-1964, age 71 , and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Section  7, Site: 10092 G.

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