Paul J . Mueller Paul John Mueller ( November 16 , 1892 – 1964 ) was a career United States Army officer . He served overseas during World War I and World War II . Education . Paul Mueller was a graduate of the West Point class of 1915 , known as " the class the stars fell on " . World War I . Served in World War I as the commander of an infantry battalion of the 64th Infantry Regiment in France . Peacetime . After the war he had assignments to infantry commands , held staff positions and attended schools . He was a member of the occupation army stationed in Koblenz from 1920 to 1922 . After leaving Germany , he attended and graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1923 . In 1928 he graduated from the Army War College . From 1931 to 1934 he served with the War Plans Division of the War Department General Staff . His next assignment was as an instructor with the General Staff College from 1935 to 1940 . He led the training division from 1940 to 1941 for the chief of the infantry command . Later that year he was assigned as Chief of Staff for the 2nd Army and promoted to Brigadier General . World War II . In August 1942 , after the United States entered World War II , he was given command of the 81st Infantry Division at Ft . Rucker , Alabama and was soon promoted to Major General . The 81st Infantry Division , known as the Wildcat Division , had been commanded by Maj . Gen . Gustave H . Franke since its reactivation in June 1942 . For the next two years Gen . Mueller moved the division to different training locations throughout the United States before it was deployed overseas in the summer of 1944 . General Mueller led the Wildcat Division into its first taste of combat on 17 September 1944 during the Palau Islands campaign . While the majority of the 81st invaded Angaur Island , RCT 321 joined the 1st Marine Division in its assault of Peleliu Island . RCT 321 also assisted in capturing Ngesebus Island , Kongauru and Garakayo Islands . Operating under a naval task force , RCT 323 occupied Ulithi Atoll . Beginning in November 1944 and continuing into the new year , General Mueller and the 81st captured Pulo Anna Island , Kyangel Atoll , and Pais Island . After a break for rehabilitation and training , General Mueller led the 81st to Leyte in May 1945 where they helped with mopping up operations until August 12 , 1945 . On the 18th of September , General Mueller began occupation duty with the 81st Division in Japan . Postwar and Retirement . In January 1946 , the 81st Division was deactivated and General Mueller took over command of the 86th Infantry Division from January 1946 to April 1946 , replacing Maj . Gen . Harris M . Melasky . Maj . General Mueller commanded the 86th for a short time until relinquishing command to Maj . Gen . Harry F . Hazlett . After leaving the 86th Infantry Division , General Mueller served as Chief of Staff to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Tokyo until 1949 . Following this assignment he became the Deputy Commander of the Third Army from 1949 to 1950 . His next assignment was as head of the Career Management Division . He continued in this assignment until his retirement in September 1954 . He died in 1964 .