Joseph E. Muller

Sergeant Joseph Edward Muller

Medal of Honor

Joseph Edward Muller was born on 23 June 1908 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He later lived in New York City and entered the United States Army from New York, New York, during the Second World War. By the spring of 1945, he had attained the rank of sergeant and was serving with Company B, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division. (Congressional Medal of Honor Society)

The 77th Infantry Division fought extensively across the Pacific, participating in the campaigns for Guam, Leyte and the Ryukyu Islands. During the Battle of Okinawa, the division was committed against the heavily fortified Japanese defensive positions protecting the approaches to Shuri. Sergeant Muller’s company was engaged near the village of Ishimmi, where Japanese troops occupied a strongly defended ridge covered by concealed machine guns and automatic weapons.

On 15 May 1945, Muller’s platoon attempted to advance against the ridge but was stopped by intense and accurately directed enemy fire. Realizing that the position had to be eliminated before his men could move forward, Muller ordered members of his squad into locations from which they could provide covering fire. He then crawled alone toward the enemy position, deliberately exposing himself to machine-gun and automatic-weapons fire.

After working his way close to the Japanese defences, Muller suddenly sprang to his feet, threw hand grenades into the position and charged directly toward it. His attack forced the Japanese soldiers from their concealed emplacements and into the open, where Muller’s squad was able to engage them. When one enemy soldier attempted to reach an abandoned machine gun and turn it against the Americans, Muller again rushed forward. In the resulting close-range action, he killed four Japanese soldiers and prevented the weapon from being brought back into operation. His courage enabled the platoon to continue its advance and secure its position on the ridge. (U.S. Army)

During the early hours of 16 May, the Japanese launched a determined counterattack against the newly won American position. Muller again placed himself at the centre of the fighting. Moving among his men despite the continuing enemy fire, he helped direct the defence and took an active part in driving the attackers from the perimeter.

After the counterattack had been repulsed, Muller returned to a foxhole occupied by two fellow soldiers. Unknown to the Americans, a wounded Japanese soldier lying nearby had been feigning death. As Muller entered the foxhole, the enemy soldier suddenly rose and threw a live hand grenade directly among the three men.

There was no time to throw the grenade clear. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own safety, Muller threw himself face-down over it. The grenade exploded beneath his body. He absorbed the full force of the blast and saved the lives of both soldiers sharing the position with him. Sergeant Muller was killed instantly or died moments later from the devastating wounds caused by the explosion. He was 36 years old. (U.S. Army)

For his conspicuous gallantry, fearless leadership and deliberate sacrifice of his life for his comrades, Sergeant Joseph Edward Muller was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The award was announced in War Department General Orders No. 71, dated 17 July 1946. His official citation declared that his actions reflected the highest traditions of the United States military service. (U.S. Army)

Muller was laid to rest in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, commonly known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His grave is located in Section N, Site 1259. (Veterans Legacy Memorial)

His name was later given to the United States Army and Navy transport vessel USNS Sgt. Joseph E. Muller, ensuring that the memory of his sacrifice continued in American military service. (Naval History and Heritage Command)

Medal of Honor Citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant, United States Army, Company B, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division Place and date: Near Ishimmi, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 15–16 May 1945 Entered service at: New York, New York Born: Holyoke, Massachusetts General Orders: War Department General Orders No. 71, 17 July 1946

Sergeant Muller displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. When his platoon was halted by deadly fire from a strongly defended ridge, he positioned his men so they could cover his advance and crawled alone toward the enemy through intense machine-gun and automatic-weapons fire. Leaping to his feet, he threw grenades and charged the Japanese position, forcing its defenders into the open. When an enemy soldier attempted to operate an abandoned machine gun, Muller again attacked and killed four enemy soldiers.

During a Japanese counterattack the following morning, he again fought fearlessly in defence of the American position. After the attack had been repulsed, an enemy soldier who had been feigning death threw a grenade into the foxhole occupied by Muller and two comrades. Muller immediately threw himself over the grenade, absorbed the explosion with his body and saved the lives of the other two soldiers. His heroic courage and voluntary sacrifice exemplified the highest traditions of the United States Army. (U.S. Army)