Robert Earle Mulhern, called Bob, put aside his college education, his hockey career, and his dreams in order to serve his country. He gave his life during WWII.

His father was Joseph John Mulhern,[i] a Massachusetts born attorney, and his mother, Gertrude D. McNulty Mulhern was a first-generation Irish American.[ii] When Bob was born on March 15, 1922, he had an older brother, Joseph John Mulhern Jr., born in 1919, plus a sister, Dorothy Mulhern Carroll, born in 1920, waiting to play with him.

When Bob is born, his father is working his way through law school. He graduates from Northeastern University Law School in 1924.

Another brother arrives in 1927, John Frances Mulhern.

The family gets thrust into the political world when Joseph is elected a representative from Ward 13 in Boston and then a state senator in 1928. Becoming a lawyer and then a state senator was quite a success for Bob’s father who spent his boyhood in a tenement house, according to his Boston Globe obituary.[iii] Joseph was famous locally for launching a probe into the Boston Police Department based upon his charges that illegal activities were taking place in the very shadow of the police department.[iv]

The family was living on Hancock Street in Boston in the 1930s in a rental home. Gertrude’s widowed mother, Ellen, an Irish immigrant, lived next door in a home she owned. Bob is 7 while his siblings are 11, 10 and 2. The older children are attending school. Joseph is supporting the family by practicing law.[v]

More siblings followed. Joan Marie Mulhern Slattery was born in 1930 and Richard J. Mulhern was born in 1932, giving the family six children across 13 years.

The family moves to Jamaica Plain, a 4-square mile neighborhood in Boston. They move into a two-story colonial style home built in the 1920s.

While Bob’s dad remained active politically, a long career in politics was not to be. He ran for district attorney in 1934 and for lieutenant governor in 1938 but lost both elections. Joseph continued to support his family with a highly active law practice and was considered an expert on real estate tax law.[vi] Joseph was considered “one of the most knowledgeable politicians in the Democratic Party in Massachusetts,” reported the Boston Globe.[vii]

Bob attended Boston Latin School (BLS) a public school in Massachusetts known as the oldest existing school in the United States.[viii] In 1938 and 1939, he was a part of the school’s hockey team where he played forward. During December of 1939, the hockey team, without ice to practice on , was busy building muscle by running track.[ix]

When he wasn’t on the ice, Bob was wearing a baseball mitt for BLS where he played second base.[x]

HIS LIFE BEFORE MILITARY

As we head toward the war years, 1940 sees the family still living in their Moss Hill Road home. Joseph is still a busy lawyer in private practice.

Bob was a member of the class of 1944 at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.[xi] He attended into his junior year and then left college to join the Army Air Force.[xii]

During his college years, he starred on two of Dartmouth College’s great hockey teams including the great 1942-1943 acknowledged American champion team under Coach Eddie Jeremiah, according to a sports story in The Boston Globe.[xiii] Bob was also a member of the fraternity Phi Gamma Delta during his college years.[xiv]

Although he is at college, the war has come to call.

The spring of his sophomore year, his brother, Joseph Jr., decides to enlist. On March 26, 1942, he enlists as a warrant officer.[xv] That same year, his sister, Dorothy, marries Robert Carroll.[xvi] In 1942, all the other Mulhern children were too young for the war. John was 15, Joan 12, and Richard, 10.

When fall term rolls around, Bob is surrounded by a large military presence on campus. Indeed, all through the fall semester of 1942, Dartmouth felt the war determining all of its policies and actions. The college’s Dartmouth Night, held in the fall, carried even more meaning and importance for the thousands of Dartmouth graduates now scattered across the globe. Seniors were told they could skip finals in order to hurry and enlist… they waited impatiently for the time when they would be best prepared to actively join the struggle so that our democratic principles might live and the Spirt of Dartmouth be Undying, according to articles in the 1943 Dartmouth yearbook.[xvii]

HIS MILITARY STORY

Flight Officer Robert E. Mulhern, service number T-004443, served in the Army Air Corp. Bob was a 20-year-old student when he enlisted on October 10, 1942[xviii] in Boston, Massachusetts.[xix] He was with the 1202nd Air, Air Force Base Unit with the U.S. Army Air Force.

Bob wasn’t at the commencement for his classmates the spring of 1943. In fact, the 1943 Dartmouth yearbook notes 82 percent of the graduating class had enlisted in some capacity. Dartmouth College President Hopkins said in his address “For men of your generation, more and greater opportunities to live importantly will be available than have ever been offered to any generation of mankind in human history.[xx]

By November of 1944, Bob was serving overseas.[xxi]

HIS LAST DAY

On May 30th, 1945, Bob was sitting as co-pilot of C-47B #44-76406. In the pilot’s seat was First Lieutenant Alfred E. Ellis of Iowa. Corporal George A. Shiffman, from Ohio, was along as the radio officer.[xxii] Alfred was the “old man” of the crew at age 38. Bob was 23 and George was 22.

The three were about to embark on a normally routine 776- mile[xxiii] flight from Accra, British West Africa to Robert’s Field[xxiv], Liberia. On board were 18 women of the Women’s Army Corp who were being transferred to a new assignment. According to HonorStates.org, the women who were in the 1202nd were older, with an average age of 28, than the usual recruit and were chosen for their “maturity and work experience.”

There were scattered showers that morning but no other weather of note.[xxv] The plane took off without incident and was last reported over Takoradi, British West Africa, about 150 miles west of Accra, shortly after departure.[xxvi]

Little is known about what transpired aboard the plane that day but several calls of “Mayday,” an emergency procedure used as a voice distress signal, were heard. The distress signal was loud and clear, lasting five minutes.[xxvii] A search was conducted by aircraft and surface craft over a wide area of the French Ivory Coast.[xxviii] The search consisted of seven PET’s and British, French, and Native forces, who were informed to search waters and coastline. No sign of the plane was found.

The plane is believed to have crashed into the sea near Takoradi, Ghana.[xxix] The Chicago Tribune reported the “[xxx]18 WACs were the first ever reported lost overseas.”

Bob went missing on May 30, 1945 and was declared dead while missing in action off the coast of Ghana, Africa.[xxxi] News of the missing plane made newspapers across America on June 6th, 1945. The Boston Globe ran the story on page one under a huge headline that read “18 WACS ON LOST PLANE: Robert Mulhern of Boston, Copilot.”[xxxii]

His family was notified via telegram. No details were given at that time but a press release from Washington followed with news of the missing plane.

Bob was 23. He had fulfilled what the Dartmouth College president had said about its men. Robert Earle Mulhern had lived importantly.

**READ THE STORIES OF ALL 21 ON THIS FLIGHT **

Click here- https://www.fold3.com/page/653613892/flight-c-47b-44-76406-stories-of-21-missing-in-action/stories

COMMENDATIONS

Purple Heart

World War II Victory Medal

American Campaign Medal

Army Presidential Unit Citation

Army Good Conduct Medal

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign[xxxiii]

MEMORIALS

A memorial mass was said for Robert E. Mulhern at Our Lady of the Airways chapel at Logan International Airport. The mass was said by Rev. John M. Linnehan, a boyhood friend of Bob’s.[xxxiv]

On June 16, 1945, a memorial service for the missing was held by the WACs’ leadership in Portman Square in London and over 660 WACs attended.[xxxv]

Flight Officer Robert E. Mulhern is remembered on the Tablets of the Missing, an American Battle Monument, North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia.

Robert E. Mulhern is one of 23 members of the Class of 1944 at Dartmouth College who gave their lives in WWII and are remembered on a plaque at the college for that class as well as on the principal memorial at the college for their WWII and Korean War fallen.[xxxvi]

Dartmouth College gave a cherished trophy in hockey called the Robert Earle Mulhern Memorial Trophy from the late 1940s into the 1960s[xxxvii]. It was awarded annually to the senior selected by the captain, manager and coach who “has shown the most improvement in hockey during his undergraduate years and who best typifies the indomitable team spirit, loyalty and sportsmanship of Flight Officer Robert Earle Mulhern, ’44, who gave his life for his country,” according to a Boston Globe article.[xxxviii]

Robert Earle Mulhern is remembered on the WWII page of his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta.[xxxix]

Time will not dim the glory of their deeds. – General John J. Pershing

AFTER THE WAR

Bob’s brother, Joseph, returned safely from his tour of duty in WWII. Joseph and all of Bob’s other siblings lived long lives.

ABOUT THIS STORY

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

[i] https://www.newspapers.com/image/434032898/?terms=%22robert%2Be%2Bmulhern%22

[ii] https://www.ancestryinstitution.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4607687_00607?pId=851110

[iii] https://www.newspapers.com/image/436000958/?terms=%22joseph%20mulhern%22&match=1

[iv] https://www.newspapers.com/image/436000958/?terms=%22joseph%2Bmulhern%22

[v] https://www.ancestryinstitution.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4607687_00607?pId=851110

[vi] While Bob’s day remained active politically, a long career in politics was not to be. He rad for district attorney in 1934 and for lieutenant governor in 1938 but lost both elections.

[vii] While Bob’s day remained active politically, a long career in politics was not to be. He rad for district attorney in 1934 and for lieutenant governor in 1938 but lost both elections.

[viii] https://www.bls.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=206116&type=d

[ix] https://www.newspapers.com/image/427947589/?terms=%22bob%2Bmulhern%22

[x] https://www.newspapers.com/image/429054827/?terms=%22bob%2Bmulhern%22

[xi] http://dusa.dartmouth.org/s/1353/clubs-classes-interior.aspx?sid=1353&gid=174&pgid=4799

[xii] https://www.newspapers.com/image/434032898/?terms=%22robert%2Be%2Bmulhern%22

[xiii] https://www.newspapers.com/image/433624898/?terms=%22robert%2Be%2Bmulhern%22

[xiv] https://www.phigam.org/wwii

[xv] https://search.ancestryinstitution.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8939&h=7899837&tid=159505479&pid=312097540968&queryId=adaa068d4678c0995ecd22bb9d2ed15a&usePUB=true&_phsrc=xxD112&_phstart=successSource

[xvi] https://www.ancestryinstitution.com/discoveryui-content/view/55550871:62116?tid=159505479&pid=312097543153&queryId=5df5dc8e6334361e8c4cebcde5078357&_phsrc=xxD121&_phstart=successSource

[xvii] https://www.ancestryinstitution.com/imageviewer/collections/1265/images/1265_b887653-00015?ssrc=&backlabel=Return

[xviii] https://www.ancestryinstitution.com/imageviewer/collections/2238/images/44016_05_00106-00105?treeid=159505479&personid=312097540970&hintid=&queryId=fe06e84a5d9cd6b12758830ea0c75b3f&usePUB=true&_phsrc=xxD85&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=195581881

[xix] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56249208/robert-e-mulhern

[xx] https://www.ancestryinstitution.com/imageviewer/collections/1265/images/1265_b887653-00015?ssrc=&backlabel=Return

[xxi] https://www.newspapers.com/image/434032898/?terms=%22robert%2Be%2Bmulhern%22

[xxiii]https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=22956270&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjM3MDE5ODM5MSwiaWF0IjoxNjAwNjUzOTMxLCJleHAiOjE2MDA3NDAzMzF9.GGROPxU0pGgcIxOv2cUjLCtQalRy9746RfogyVqiR44

[xxiv] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56250251/leona-marie_elizabeth-seyfert

[xxv] https://www.abmceducation.org/understandingsacrifice/soldier/rose-puchalla

[xxvi]https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=22956270&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjM3MDE5ODM5MSwiaWF0IjoxNjAwNjUzOTMxLCJleHAiOjE2MDA3NDAzMzF9.GGROPxU0pGgcIxOv2cUjLCtQalRy9746RfogyVqiR44

[xxvii] https://www.abmceducation.org/understandingsacrifice/soldier/rose-puchalla

[xxviii] New York Times, June 7, 1945 “18 WACS Missing on African Flight”

[xxix] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56250251/leona-marie_elizabeth-seyfert

[xxx]https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=22956270&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjM3MDE5ODM5MSwiaWF0IjoxNjAwNjUzOTMxLCJleHAiOjE2MDA3NDAzMzF9.GGROPxU0pGgcIxOv2cUjLCtQalRy9746RfogyVqiR44

[xxxi] https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=334268

[xxxii] https://www.newspapers.com/image/434032898/?terms=%22robert%2Be%2Bmulhern%22

[xxxiii] https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=52575

[xxxiv] https://www.newspapers.com/image/433677942/?terms=%22robert%2Be%2Bmulhern%22

[xxxv] https://www.facebook.com/notes/mia-recoveries-locating-lost-wwii-servicemen/the-tragic-loss-of-c-47-44-76406-the-wacs-worst-disaster/10150778536912463/

[xxxvi] http://dusa.dartmouth.org/s/1353/clubs-classes-interior.aspx?sid=1353&gid=174&pgid=4799

[xxxvii] Dartmouth Alumni Relations Office

[xxxviii] https://www.newspapers.com/image/433624898/?terms=%22robert%2Be%2Bmulhern%22

[xxxix] https://www.phigam.org/wwii

Award -The_Portsmouth_Herald_Fri__May_5__1950_.jpg

Part 2- Robert E. Mulhern - The_Boston_Globe_Wed__Jun_6__1945_ (1).jpg

Robert E. Bob Mulhern in his Boston Latin School Days - The_Boston_Globe_Mon__Jan_8__1940_.jpg

Robert E. Mulhern - Dartmouth College Memorial.jpg

Robert E. Mulhern - The_Boston_Globe_Thu__Jun_7__1945_.jpg

Robert E. Mulhern - The_Boston_Globe_Tue__Feb_22__1949_.jpg

Robert E. Mulhern from honorstates.jpg

Robert E. Mulhern- Dartmouth Alumni WWII Memorial.jpg

Robert E. Mulhern Dartmouth Class of 1944 Memorial Plaque.jfif

Robert E. Mulhern.jpeg

Robert E. Mulhern- The_Boston_Globe_Wed__Feb_12__1958_.jpg

Robert E Mulhern