Sgt. Merrill Melvin Mullin was born in Racine, Wisconsin, on August 31, 1919, to Delbert W. Mullin and Eda M. Zierke-Mullin and had two sisters and three brothers. His family resided at 109 Orchard Street, Hillside, Illinois and he graduated from Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hillside, and attended Proviso Township High School in Maywood, but left school before his class graduated. He worked for the Glen Oak Cemetery in Hillside. When the Selective Service Act became law on October 16, 1940, he registered for the draft and named his father as his contact person. He was drafted into the US Army on March 24, 1941, in Chicago, and was the first man from Hillside to be drafted into the army and received the serial number 36 012 196.
It is not known where he trained, but it is known that he was assigned to the military police and remained in the US for three years. During this time, he rose in rank to sergeant. It appears he requested to be transferred overseas, and was assigned to Company K, 424th Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division, as a platoon sergeant. It known that the 106th was at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, in March 1944, preparing to be sent overseas. In October 1944, from New York, the division left the US for England and arrived on November 17, 1944. They spent most of their time training.
On December 6, 1944, the division arrived in France and as part of the 12th Army group joined the Rhineland Campaign. The 106th entered Belgium on December 10, 1944. The division took part in the stopping the German Ardennes Offensive, which started on December 16, 1944, which is known better as the Battle of the Bulge. During the battle, Merrill was captured, held as a Prisoner of War for for 2½ hours before he managed to escape. The Battle of the Bulge ended on January 25, 1945
Merrill’s regiment was attacking a village near Mendell, Belgium, on January 27, 1945, with the job of driving the Germans out of the town. The Americans took the town, but German artillery became shelling it. Merrill was reported to have been killed after being hit, in both legs, by shrapnel. He was buried on June 29, 1945, in the Henri Chapelle Cemetery #1, in Plot HHH, Row 6, Grave 118. His parents received a telegram from the War Department.
MRS IDA MULLIN
RR #1
MELROSE PARK ILLLINOIS
THE SECRETARY OF WAR HIS DEEPEST REGRET THAT YOUR SON SERGEANT MERRILL M MULLIN WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON TWENTY SEVEN JANUARY IN BELGIUM LETTER FOLLOWS
ULIO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
The content of the follow-up letter is not known. A letter dated May 9, 1945, was received by his mother from a chaplain with the 424th telling her the details of Merrill’s death.
Mrs. Ida Mullin
RR No. 1 Box No. 38
Melrose Park Ill.
My dear Mrs. Mullin:
In reply to your letter of 25 February 1945, concerning your son, Sgt. Merrill M. Mullin, 36012196, of Co. K, 424th Infantry, the following information is available:
Sgt. Mullin was a platoon Sergeant in Company K, 424th Infantry. On 27 January 1945, Company K was attacking a village in the vicinity of Mendell, Belgium. The Company had successfully driven out the enemy and were preparing to defend the town against an counter attack by the enemy. A barrage of enemy artillery hit the road over which Sgt. Mullin was leading his troops and Sgt. Mullin was hit by shrapnel form one of the rounds, which cause his death at approximately 11:00 a. m., 27 January 1945. His body was interred in the American Cemetery, Henri Chapelle No. 1, in Belgium.
Sgt. Mullin was doing an excellent job. He was a natural leader and led his men with great care and consideration. The men of the company had great respect for his ability. He was a good soldier and his death came as a blow to everyone in the company.
Please accept my deepest sympathy in behalf of your great loss. I know this has come as a great shock to you, but I pray the Lord will bless you and keep you in His love.
Very sincerely,
(signed)
ALFORD V. BRADLEY
424th Inf. Reg.
Merrill’s parents held a memorial service for him on August 26, 1945, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hillside.
After the war, his parents received several letters from the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC. In one letter, dated June 27, 1946, they were informed where Merrill was buried and the location of his grave in the cemetery. They were also informed that another letter would arrive and tell them of their options for Merrill’s final burial. When that letter did arrive, dated March 11, 1947, his parents returned a enclosed form, which was received by the OQMG, on May 28, 1947, and indicated that they wanted his remains returned to Illinois. During this time his family moved to Roselle, Illinois.
Merrill’s remains were exhumed, on August 25, 1947, from the USMC Henri Chapelle and sent to Liege, Belgium, where his remains were casketed. On August 29, 1947, his casket was sent to Antwerp, Belgium. They remained there until October 4th, when his casket was placed on the USAT Joseph V Connolly which sailed for New York the same day. The ship arrived in the New York Port of Entry on October 27th. By train, they were sent to the Quartermaster Corps Distribution Center #8, Chicago, and later sent to Hillside, Illinois on the Illinois Central Railroad. On November 19, 1947, Sgt. Merrill M. Mullin was buried in Glen Oak Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois.
