Col. Walter “Wally” Mueller, U.S. Army (Retired), passed away surrounded by family. He was born October 3, 1942, in Weehawken, New Jersey, to Walter Rudolph Mueller Sr. and Eleanor (Battle) Mueller, both of whom preceded him in death. He grew up in Guttenberg, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from Manhattan, where the Empire State Building could always be seen from his family’s kitchen window.

Wally attended St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he excelled in sports, including football and tennis. He graduated from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Medical Studies and an ROTC commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps.

After completing the Officer Basic Course and Rotary Wing Flight School (Class 65-18), Lt. Mueller was assigned to the 45th Air Ambulance Company at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In July 1966 he deployed to Vietnam with the 498th Air Ambulance Company in Nha Trang. Flying as “Dustoff 19,” he logged more than 590 combat hours and evacuated over 1,000 wounded soldiers throughout the II Corps area. During his tour, the 498th Air Ambulance Company helped pioneer the use of the rescue hoist for both day and night operations. His Vietnam experience has been memorialized in several books about the era and in the video series Voices of History Presents.

Upon returning to the United States, Capt. Mueller served as an instructor pilot at Fort Wolters, Texas. During this time, he met the love of his life, Catherine “Kit” Mueller (née Rush), who would become his wife of 58 years. Their beloved family dog, Marylou, also joined them after wandering into their lives as a young stray in Texas.

Wally left active duty in January 1969 and began a new chapter in Nashville, Tennessee. There he joined the Big Brother program and became a mentor to 10-year-old Robbie Burnett. Later that year he and Kit welcomed their son, Rudy Mueller.

Wally continued flying helicopters by joining the Tennessee National Guard. In 1973 he accepted a position with the National Guard Bureau in Edgewood, Maryland, and moved his family to Bel Air, Maryland. He joined the Maryland National Guard, where he served in positions of increasing responsibility and eventually commanded the 29th Aviation Brigade, 29th Infantry Division (Light). During the 1980s his responsibilities included Cold War planning for a potential Soviet invasion of West Germany and managing air logistics supporting operations in the Middle East.

Among his favorite travels were a 1985 trip to Spain with Kit and a 1987 family trip to Germany, where driving on the autobahn made a lasting impression. Around this time, he also parted with one of his favorite possessions—his first green convertible Mustang, an unrestored beauty with an AM radio and no power accessories but charm to spare.

Wally was deeply involved in his community. As President of the Hickory Recreation Council during a time of transition, he helped establish the council’s first soccer program and oversaw the construction of new recreational facilities.

In 1989 Wally was appointed the United States Property and Fiscal Officer (USPFO) for Maryland, where he oversaw all federal funds and equipment assigned to the Maryland National Guard. Around this time, he began a tradition of holding a small but meaningful Veterans Day ceremony each year at 3 p.m. in Bel Air to honor veterans at the statue of the town’s own Captain Merle Bailey.

Wally concluded his government service as Deputy Director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), serving during the critical period following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 16 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Medic Badge, and Master Aviator Wings. He was also a graduate of the Army War College and the National Defense University.

From the 1990s through the early 2000s, Wally served five terms as Post Commander of American Legion Post 39 in Bel Air, Maryland. In retirement, he and Kit took on a new mission—supporting their son Rudy and his four children in California following a difficult divorce. Wally took special interest in helping his grandson Ethan, who has autism, patiently working with him every night on homework and encouraging his growth and confidence.

After completing that family mission in 2012, Wally returned to Bel Air and again became active at American Legion Post 39. He faithfully attended Farewell Comrade ceremonies honoring members who had passed into Post Everlasting and participated in school and community events commemorating veterans. Although health issues slowed his pace after 2019, he remained a constant presence at the Legion, often found enjoying his signature Diet Coke while seated at slot machine #5.

Wally was a lifetime member of the Dustoff Pilots Association, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Mueller Sr.; his mother, Eleanor Mueller; and his brother, William Mueller.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Catherine Marie Mueller; his son, Rudy (Karen) Mueller; his grandchildren Chloe, Ethan, Christy, Andrew, Gabriel, Molly, Tessa, and Bree Mueller; and his brother, Gregory (Donna) Nuzzo-Mueller.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Link to Voices of History Video Interview:

VOICES OF HISTORY PRESENTS - Wally Mueller, Dustoff Medevac Huey Pilot Vietnam, 498th Air Ambulance

Army Times Article:

https://www.army.mil/article/138463/dustoff_pilot_recalls_medevac_missions

Bel Air Patch Article:

https://patch.com/maryland/aberdeen/local-veteran-recalls-med-evac-missions-pilot-nam-0