300 E Locust in Union
Franklin County Historical Society
"They do amazing things to preserve history, but amazing things take amazing donations."
Open 1st Wed and 2nd/4th Sat Mar-Nov at 300 E Locust St in Union
​Contact Us: 636.583.3247​ Text: 636.283.8353
Major General Paul Mueller
Paul John Mueller born in Union November 16 1892 attended Union Public Schools. He is a West Point Graduate.
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His parents were Albert John Mueller and Rosa Mehl. Mehl's roots run deep in Franklin County. Rosa's grandfather Wolfgang Freiberger came to the area around 1844 and received a land grant in 1849.
The Mehl family came to America in 1835.Paul's great grandparents John and Maria Mehl are buried in Union Cemetery, having passed before he was born. John George Mehl, Paul's other great grandfather, helped establish the first Protestant Church in Gravois Settlement, what is now Mehlville. Paul's grandfather, George Mehl, was enlisted in the Civil War at Jefferson Barracks and was wounded so bad he was discharged due to the injury.
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Paul served in WWI and WWII.
In WWI he served overseas from Aug 1918 to June 1919. He received the Silver Star for bravery in action Oct 1918. He was appointed as camp instructor at Presidio of San Francisco. Then he was sent to Texas to prepare war on the Western Front. He was promoted to Major at age 25. HE commanded his first Battalion near the Moselle River in the Marbache Sector.
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August 1942 he was given command of the 81st Infantry Division at Camp Rucker, Alabama and was promoted shortly thereafter to the 2 star position of Major General. This division was known as the Wildcat Division. He took this division into its first combat at the Palua Islands.