“Landing Ship, Tank (LST) was the military designation for naval vessels created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto an unimproved shore.”
Jim Mueller served in the U. S. Navy aboard several LSTs during his naval career.
Two of his closest friends and he enlisted in the Navy on May 8, 1944. Two days later, Jim was aboard a train headed to Camp Farragut Naval Training Station’s Camp Waldron.
After his basic training, he was sent to Camp Bradford for amphibious training, fire fighting, gas recognition, and mock-up drills on a famous wooden LST.
On October 4, his unit was moved to Camp Little Creek where they boarded LST 187 for cruising and training on Chesapeake Bay. Then they joined the crew of the LST 915 which was in dry dock at the Norfolk Navy Yard.
On October 29th, their crew was sent on the Pennsylvania Railway to Pittsburgh, and later taken by truck to the Carnegie Institute of Technology where they trained until LST 890 had been completely built.
Jim’s last day of lugging a duffel bag was on Nov. 11 when he boarded his new home for the next two years.
During his time in the Navy, Jim received Campaign medals and ribbons for service in Okinawa; one, with the American Area Campaign; the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with one star; the Japanese Occupation Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal.
With an Honorable Discharge from the Navy on October 12, 1946 in San Francisco.
Jim returned to St. Louis and went back to work with Busch-Sulzer for a year.
Next, he became employed in Field Management by the Buick Motor Division of General Motors. In his years with Buick, Jim started in March in 1946 as a Mail Room clerk in St. Louis and eventually became a District Manager in Los Angeles; the Zone Manager in both San Francisco and Atlanta; and Area Manager for the Northeast States out of the Philadelphia Office.
Jim retired in Jacksonville, Florida, on March 1st in 1982 after 35 years.
A short time after Jim had left the Navy, he and Audrey M. Schmidt became engaged.
On May 17, 1947, Audrey became his wife. They moved to California with their four-month-old baby girl. Eventually, they gave birth to another daughter, and three sons. The happy family grew to nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in May, 2013.,Audrey and Jim resided in Leisure World, Seal Beach, California.
Jim played golf in some of the many Clubs in Leisure World.
He’s always been an avid Stamp Collector.
Jim told a bit about his earliest years:
His parents and close relatives were elated about his birth on February 12, 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Jim stated, “My parents had moved out of of St. Louis during the depression. They had half-acre lots where they built houses; had fruit trees and vegetable gardens; and raised chickens to supplement their incomes.
“I met Audrey Schmidt when I was 6, and she was 5.
“We attended the same elementary and high schools, but we were not close friends. “I only went to high school for two years. I left to accept an offer to be sponsored as an apprentice machinist at Busch-Sulzer, a Diesel engine manufacturer.
One day after the war started, my mother and Audrey’s mother met while shopping.
My Mom told her, “Jim has joined the Navy, and he’d probably like Audrey to correspond with him.”
When Audrey’s mother reported the conversation to Audrey, she said, “No, we were never that friendly, and I don’t want to write to him.”
Audrey’s mother promptly said, “Yes, there is a war on, and Jim is in the Pacific and fighting for our country, so you are going to do your part and write to him.”
Well, of course, she did write and I answered.
By the time my next leave came around, Audrey and I had started dating. We continued to correspond.
Along with Jim’s successful business careers, he always made time to serve in community events and organizations.
As a Veteran of World War II, having served in Pacific battles, Jim became a member of the Seal Beach Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4048.
In fact, he was one of the original Commanders, and he served as Editor of our Post newsletter for five years, and served three additional one-year terms as Post Commander; also as Adjutant for several years.
Jim said: “One of our greatest achievements was when our Post members became greatly involved in collecting and delivering canned goods, clothing, blankets and other vital survival supplies to the Red Cross after several forest fires and floods in other nearby counties.”
Jim Mueller has always enjoyed our VFW participation with the American Legion Post in our combined presentations of Memorial Day and Veterans Day Ceremonies at Eisenhower Park in Seal Beach; also in our Flag Retirement Ceremony we present at a local elementary school each year.
Audrey was a charter member of our American Legion Post 857 Ladies Auxiliary.
Along with the other Ladies in the Auxiliary, Audrey has worked in assisting needy Veterans and their families in many other annual community activities.
A special note from Audrey Mueller:
Dear Friends and Fellow Y’s Men,
On Sunday, January 12, 2014, Past International President, James Mueller died peacefully in the hospital with me and our daughter. Barbara, at his bedside.
Jim had been hospitalized since Tuesday, January 7. He was very weak and had not been feeling well for a few days. At the hospital, we learned that he was suffering from congestive heart failure.
When we talked, we were both sure this was a temporary thing, although he had had other health issues in the past year.
Our family, myself, daughter Barbara, sons Jim, Dave, and Tim, want you all to know that although we are very sad, we are also glad that he did not suffer and is now in the hands of God and the angels.
A memorial will be held on Saturday February 8, 2014 at the Leisure World Community Church 12 noon, with a lunch to follow.
Any memorial tributes to Jim should go to the Gardena Carson Family YMCA 1000 West Artesia Blvd. Gardena, CA 90248 USA, or the Los Altos Family YMCA 1720 Bellflower Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90815 USA.
Bill Thomas of Rossmoor is a Veteran of World War II, and Past Commander of VFW Post 4048, and American Legion Post 857. Contact Bill at dennis@sunnews.org.
Meetings of the Seal Beach American Legion Post 857, and the Seal BeachVeterans of Foreign Wars Post 4048 are held in Building 6 of the Naval Weapons Station on Seal Beach Blvd, (south of Westminster Blvd.). They both have a “Social Hour” starting at 6 p.m., Their “Regular” meetings start at 7 p.m.
The American Legion meets on the third Thursday.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars meet on the fourth Tuesday.
A gate pass is required.
For more information, send email to Dennis Kaiser the Sun editor: dennis@sunnews.org.
