Sgt. Fred L. Mullen
Dies in Germany
Sgt. Fred LeRoy Mullen, 33, was killed in action in Germany on Dec. 1, according to a war department telegram received Tuesday night by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Mullen, 725 Lincoln street.
Member of a reconnaissance squadron, he had gone overseas in January, 1944. His family had last heard from him Saturday, in a letter he had written Thanksgiving day.
Born in Waterloo June 21, 1911, the son of Louis and Pauline Kurth Mullen, he was graduated from St. Mary’s high school, where he was a basketball star, in the class of 1929.
He was employed by the John Deere Tractor Co., until his induction into the army Mar. 5, 1941. He received military training at Camp Bowie and Hood, Tex.
Survivors include his parents; two brothers, Ralph, 226 East Fifth street, and Cecil, at home; and six sisters, Mrs. Manuel Perry, Sacramento, Cal., Mrs. Orville Carnes, San Francisco, Cal., Mrs. Ray Munson, at home, Mrs. Al LaPlount, 436 Cottage street, Mrs. Glen Neff, at home, and Miss Kathryn Mullen, at home. He was preceded in death by on brother Vincent, in 1933.
He was a member of St. Mary’s court, Catholic Order of Foresters, and of St. Mary’s Holy Name society.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, December 13, 1944, Page 3 (photo included)
Mullen Memorial Services Planned
Memorial services will be held at 8:15 a. m. Wednesday at the St. Mary’s Catholic church for Sgt. Fred. L. Mullen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louie Mullen, 725 Lincoln street, who was killed in action Dec. 1 in Germany. Requiem high mass will be said by Rev. Fr. Raphael Grahl, pastor.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, December 17, 1944, Section Two, Page 13
Service News
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Mullen, 725 Lincoln street, have received the Purple Heart posthumously awarded their son, Sgt. Fred Mullen, who was killed in action Dec. 1, 1944, in Germany.
A letter from Sergeant Mullen’s commanding officer has informed his parents that he was accorded full military rites and buried in an American cemetery in Holland.
He had been serving overseas with a mechanized cavalry unit since January, 1944.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, January 11, 1945, Page 7
Sgt. Mullen is buried in Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands and was awarded the Purple Heart.
Source: abmc.gov
