World War II Honoree

William Samuel 'Bill' Mullen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Agra, Oklahoma

Honored By

Helen Louise Lowe Mullen and James William Mullen

Relationship

Wife and Son

SERVED IN THE ARMY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS AT OKLAHOMA A & M COLLEGE (OAMC) AT STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA FROM SEPTEMBER 1940 TO APRIL 5, 1943. SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVED AS A PRIVATE IN THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS WITH THE 1875TH SERVICE UNIT FROM JULY 1942 TO APRIL 5, 1943. INDUCTED AND CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON APRIL 6, 1943. REPORTED TO THE RECEPTION CENTER AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA. RETURNED TO OAMC ON APRIL 12, 1943 AND GRADUATED IN MAY 1943. ASSIGNED TO ARMORED OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT KNOX AT LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1943, WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL TO ACCEPT A COMMISSION AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT. TRAINED WITH THE NEWLY ORGANIZED 787TH TANK BATTALION AT CAMP CHAFFEE AT FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS, CAMP PHILLIPS AT SALINA, KANSAS, AND THEN FORT BENNING AT COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. PROMOTED TO FIRST LIEUTENANT IN DECEMBER 1944. PREPARED FOR OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT WITH HIS BATTALION AT FORT KNOX, WHERE HIS UNIT PICKED UP BATTLE-READY EQUIPMENT. DEPARTED THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON MARCH 2, 1945 AND ARRIVED AT LE HAVRE, FRANCE ON MARCH 12, 1945. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. STAGED FROM CAMP LUCKY STRIKE NEAR LE HAVRE ON MARCH 14, 1945 IN PREPARATION FOR ONWARD MOVEMENT TO COMBAT. DIED ON MARCH 17, 1945 FROM NON-BATTLE INJURIES RECEIVED IN AN ACCIDENTAL ‘FRIENDLY FIRE’ SHOOTING INCIDENT AT CAMP LUCKY STRIKE. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.