Anna man honored for bravery during time as prisoner of war

A local man recently was honored for the bravery he displayed during World War II.

Kenneth Mueller of Anna was presented with a certificate of special recognition by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mueller is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Anna.

Mueller served his country in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was assigned to the 418th Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations as a radioman/gunner.

Mueller was captured and interned in a German prisoner of war camp for 14 months after being shot down over Germany during a bombing mission.

He returned home and is a life member of the VFW’s Carroll P. Foster Post No. 3455 in Anna. He is the post’s last surviving former prisoner of war from World War II.

On the Sept. 20 observance of National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day, the Department of of Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars recognized Mueller.

The World War II veteran was recognized for “outstanding bravery, personal sacrifices and distinctive accomplishments as a Prisoner of War and his faithful dedication to the ideals and principles of the United States of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in the ensuing years since his liberation.”