Leland Mueller, 94, of rural Sweet Springs, MO, died Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg. Funeral services were Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sweet Springs with Rev. Dan Wing officiating followed by burial with full military rites in Fairview Cemetery in Sweet Springs.
Born May 17, 1921, in rural Sweet Springs, he was the son of the late George F. Mueller and Isabelle Smith Mueller. Leland lived in the rural Sweet Springs area his entire life and was a 1939 graduate of Sweet Springs High School. On December 29, 1956 he married Mary Ann Kueker who preceded him in death on August 5, 2015. Leland was inducted into the United States Army on September 9, 1942 and was trained as an antitank gunner. He deployed to the Asiatic Pacific Theater on October 2, 1942 with the 34th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division, seeing action in New Guinea, Luzon, and the Southern Philippines. During a landing, a Japanese machine gun began to deliver murderous fire at the men on the beach. Leland, through his own initiative, fired his antitank gun, destroying the enemy weapon, and therefore saved the lives of his comrades. On June 5, 1945 he was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity during that attack. He was severely wounded by Japanese shellfire and was evacuated back to the United States where he remained hospitalized for many months, until his honorable discharge on February 27, 1947. In addition to the Silver Star, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. After being discharged, Leland returned to Sweet Springs where he worked at Kenny’s Service Station, as well as farmed, even though he had been disabled in the war. He was a life member of V.F.W. Post 5649, American Legion Post 279, Elmwood United Methodist Church, and attended Christ Lutheran Church in rural Sweet Springs with his wife. While a resident at Sweet Springs Villa, he enjoyed the hoe-downs, and since 2014 was a proud resident of Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg.
He is survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth A. Mueller and Byron Mueller; and four sisters: Lucille Mueller, in infancy, Kathleen Craig, Louise Hardison, and Bernice Bottoms.
Born May 17, 1921, in rural Sweet Springs, he was the son of the late George F. Mueller and Isabelle Smith Mueller. Leland lived in the rural Sweet Springs area his entire life and was a 1939 graduate of Sweet Springs High School. On December 29, 1956 he married Mary Ann Kueker who preceded him in death on August 5, 2015. Leland was inducted into the United States Army on September 9, 1942 and was trained as an antitank gunner. He deployed to the Asiatic Pacific Theater on October 2, 1942 with the 34th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division, seeing action in New Guinea, Luzon, and the Southern Philippines. During a landing, a Japanese machine gun began to deliver murderous fire at the men on the beach. Leland, through his own initiative, fired his antitank gun, destroying the enemy weapon, and therefore saved the lives of his comrades. On June 5, 1945 he was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity during that attack. He was severely wounded by Japanese shellfire and was evacuated back to the United States where he remained hospitalized for many months, until his honorable discharge on February 27, 1947. In addition to the Silver Star, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. After being discharged, Leland returned to Sweet Springs where he worked at Kenny’s Service Station, as well as farmed, even though he had been disabled in the war. He was a life member of V.F.W. Post 5649, American Legion Post 279, Elmwood United Methodist Church, and attended Christ Lutheran Church in rural Sweet Springs with his wife. While a resident at Sweet Springs Villa, he enjoyed the hoe-downs, and since 2014 was a proud resident of Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg.
He is survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth A. Mueller and Byron Mueller; and four sisters: Lucille Mueller, in infancy, Kathleen Craig, Louise Hardison, and Bernice Bottoms.
Leland Mueller, 94, of rural Sweet Springs, MO, died Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg. Funeral services were Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sweet Springs with Rev. Dan Wing officiating followed by burial with full military rites in Fairview Cemetery in Sweet Springs.
Born May 17, 1921, in rural Sweet Springs, he was the son of the late George F. Mueller and Isabelle Smith Mueller. Leland lived in the rural Sweet Springs area his entire life and was a 1939 graduate of Sweet Springs High School. On December 29, 1956 he married Mary Ann Kueker who preceded him in death on August 5, 2015. Leland was inducted into the United States Army on September 9, 1942 and was trained as an antitank gunner. He deployed to the Asiatic Pacific Theater on October 2, 1942 with the 34th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division, seeing action in New Guinea, Luzon, and the Southern Philippines. During a landing, a Japanese machine gun began to deliver murderous fire at the men on the beach. Leland, through his own initiative, fired his antitank gun, destroying the enemy weapon, and therefore saved the lives of his comrades. On June 5, 1945 he was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity during that attack. He was severely wounded by Japanese shellfire and was evacuated back to the United States where he remained hospitalized for many months, until his honorable discharge on February 27, 1947. In addition to the Silver Star, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. After being discharged, Leland returned to Sweet Springs where he worked at Kenny’s Service Station, as well as farmed, even though he had been disabled in the war. He was a life member of V.F.W. Post 5649, American Legion Post 279, Elmwood United Methodist Church, and attended Christ Lutheran Church in rural Sweet Springs with his wife. While a resident at Sweet Springs Villa, he enjoyed the hoe-downs, and since 2014 was a proud resident of Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg.
He is survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth A. Mueller and Byron Mueller; and four sisters: Lucille Mueller, in infancy, Kathleen Craig, Louise Hardison, and Bernice Bottoms.
Born May 17, 1921, in rural Sweet Springs, he was the son of the late George F. Mueller and Isabelle Smith Mueller. Leland lived in the rural Sweet Springs area his entire life and was a 1939 graduate of Sweet Springs High School. On December 29, 1956 he married Mary Ann Kueker who preceded him in death on August 5, 2015. Leland was inducted into the United States Army on September 9, 1942 and was trained as an antitank gunner. He deployed to the Asiatic Pacific Theater on October 2, 1942 with the 34th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division, seeing action in New Guinea, Luzon, and the Southern Philippines. During a landing, a Japanese machine gun began to deliver murderous fire at the men on the beach. Leland, through his own initiative, fired his antitank gun, destroying the enemy weapon, and therefore saved the lives of his comrades. On June 5, 1945 he was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity during that attack. He was severely wounded by Japanese shellfire and was evacuated back to the United States where he remained hospitalized for many months, until his honorable discharge on February 27, 1947. In addition to the Silver Star, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. After being discharged, Leland returned to Sweet Springs where he worked at Kenny’s Service Station, as well as farmed, even though he had been disabled in the war. He was a life member of V.F.W. Post 5649, American Legion Post 279, Elmwood United Methodist Church, and attended Christ Lutheran Church in rural Sweet Springs with his wife. While a resident at Sweet Springs Villa, he enjoyed the hoe-downs, and since 2014 was a proud resident of Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg.
He is survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth A. Mueller and Byron Mueller; and four sisters: Lucille Mueller, in infancy, Kathleen Craig, Louise Hardison, and Bernice Bottoms.
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