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| Cpl. George McMullin was a medic in the 32nd Infantry Division at Buna, New Guinea. His gravestone erroneously identifies his division as the 126th. That was his regiment. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104916633/george-harry-mcmullin http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/donald-r-lobaugh-from-delinquent-to-medal-of-honor-recipient/ |
Today I profile two men, born on the same day, who both had a mission to preserve and heal lives.
George H. McMullin never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on April 1, 1918 in Michigan. His parents Howard and Linda were also both born in Michigan. His father worked as a machinist. George had two older sisters and five younger brothers. At least four of his brothers served in the military. By 1940 George had completed three years of high school and was still living at home. He was working as a furniture factory inspector.
He enlisted via the Michigan Army National Guard in the army on October 20, 1940 with an assignment to the Medical Department. He became a TEC 5 assigned to Company K and later Company H (probably to replace a medic lost as a result of the march over the Owen Stanley Range in New Guinea) in the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. Although originally trained to fight in the European Theater, the 32nd ID was sent to Australia where it arrived in May 1942. It was sent to Port Moresby, New Guinea in September.
Cpl. McMullin's regiment played the key roll in the Battle of Buna-Gona, which began on November 16. In two months it would lose 80 percent of its strength to death, wounds, and tropical diseases. One of those lost was Cpl. McMullin who was killed on December 7, 1942. The day he was killed his unit had to fight through a jungle in oppressive heat, quicksand, and patches of deep water. More than 100 casualties that day would have kept Cpl. McMullin busy taking care of the wounded, under fire of the enemy, which likely led to his death.
His grave is at Allendale Township Cemetery in Allendale, Michigan.
100 Year Old - Lloyd Hicken
While the focus of this project is to honor the 408,000+ fallen who did not return home, the majority who served did survive the war and some of them even lived long enough to celebrate their 100th birthday. One of them lives just a few blocks away from me.
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| Dr. Hicken recently spoke about his war service at Hill Air Fore Base. You can watch it on YouTube. |
Prior to the war he was a missionary in Brazil for the LDS Church. He enlisted in the army on July 27, 1942. He became a second lieutenant and B-24 pilot in the 531st Bombardment Squadron, 380th Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force which operated from Australia. Lt. Hicken completed 27 combat missions.
After the war he became a family doctor who delivered thousands of babies. He returned to Brazil as an LDS Mission President and also served as an LDS stake patriarch. He retired from medicine at age 74 but was still waterskiing at age 93. He and his wife Alice had five children, 26 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
Congratulations to Dr. Hicken on reaching this 100 year milestone. And thanks again to all those who did not, like George McMullin, who bought us the freedoms we enjoy.
Last year on this date I profiled William Copeland, 1st Infantry Division, who lost his live on D-Day. You can read about William here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
Thank you for writing this blog about my Uncle Harry (George Harry McMullin.) My dad said that he was shot while attending to the wounded, and was then transferred to a hospital, which was subsequently bombed.
ReplyDeleteWhen my dad passed away in 2010, we found the telegram he received from his parents telling him about his brother’s death. It still gives me chills.
Thanks for adding these details. If you would like to help write the stories of others of the fallen who served, visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org to learn more.
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