R. Moeller Reported Missing in Action
Recently Cited For "Meritorious Achievement"
Thursday of last week brought the sad news to Mr. and Mrs.
Herman Moeller, well known residents of the Walthill community, that
their son, Staff Sergeant Robert P. Moeller, was missing in action.
The information came direct from adjutant R. T. Ulio of
Washington, D. C.
Robert 23, was a member of the 403d bombing squadron of the 43d
bombing group in the southwest Pacific when he wrote his brother,
Ronald, in September. More recently he is thought to have been assigned
to transport duty in the fighting zone. He wrote Ronald he had been
given credit for shooting down a Zero plane in November, another in
August and still another in September. He was awarded the air medal
early in the war and was later awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to go with
it. More recently he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Early
in October he was again cited for "meritorious achievement" by
Lt. Gen George C. Kenney for his part in a fight over Wewak, New Guinea.
He was recommended for a Silver Star award last December, but it had not
caught up with him when he wrote Ronald Sept. 30.
Lt. Gen Kenney wrote Mr. and Mrs. Moeller Oct. 12, telling of the
citation given Robert, and among other things said: "I would like
to tell you how genuinely proud I am to have men such as your son in my
command, and how gratified I am to know that young Americans with such
courage and resourcefulness are fighting our country's battle against
the aggressor nations. You have every reason to share that pride and gratitude."
In the last letter to his brother Ronald he evinced a great
interest in what was going on at the farm, how the crop was coming
along, what improvement would be made and the prices receive for farm
products on the market. He told Ronald how he and several other soldiers
from farms would get together and discuss farm matters and speculate on
when they would be back to take up where they left off.
(1943)
Note: Died 13 October 1943. Buried at Manila American Cemetery and
Memorial in the Philippines. |
