T/5 Martin I. Mueller

How this story crossed my path

On November 6, 1944, Frank Klepper was killed by friendly fire in our municipality of Putte (find the story here). Six of his brothers in arms were also wounded in this accident. They were Corporal William A. Bassi, T/5 William E. Stireman, Private First Class James H. Swanson, Private First Class Martin I. Mueller, Private First Class Adam Valuchivich, and Private Herbert G. Bernard.

For their contribution to our freedom, I would also like to give these men the recognition they deserve. Here the story of Technician 5th Grade Martin I. Mueller, a member of D Battery, 494th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion.

Biography and Wartime Service

Martin Irvin Mueller was born on February 18, 1919 in Humboldt, Kansas to Mary Igel and John M. Mueller. He was a graduate from Iola High School in 1936.

Martin Irvin 'Irv' Mueller entered the service on October 1, 1941, in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and was part of the original men assigned to the 494th when it was formed in Iceland in 1942. Two years later, November 2, 1944 Mueller and the 494th AAA Gun Bn arrived in Putte, as part of operation 'Antwerp X'.

In the accident on November 6, 1944 which killed Frank Klepper, Martin Mueller suffered injuries from the shrapnel of the exploding 40mm shell. He was initially treated at the hospital for the treatment of wounds on his shoulder and chin. Because of the light injuries Martin did not lose any time with his unit and was able to return to his duties quickly. Despite the incident and losing Gun nr 4, D-Battery was operational again 4 hours later at their new location in the Heerkenslei, Putte.

His discharge papers indicate that he ended up as a Technician 5th Grade. He returned to the U.S. in September 1945, where he was honorably discharged on October 6, 1945 as a member of the 494th Anti-Aircraft Battalion.

After his military service Martin worked for Service Pipline and retired after 15 years. Martin Irvin Mueller married Mary Frances Weimer on May 7, 1966 in Humboldt, Kansas. He then self employed as a partner in the Mueller Dairy, retiring in 1986 after 23 years.
Martin 'Ive' Mueller, a lifelong resident of Humboldt, died on August 28, 1996 at the Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. His wife Mary Frances Mueller died on March 17, 2021.

Gallery

click on the images to enlarge

Photos courtesy of Paul Varner and of the Stireman family