| Admin/Biog History |
Earl Valentine Muza was born in Oshkosh, WI November 24, 1915. He attended Oshkosh High School and worked for Deltox Rug Company. He married May Ruth Granberg on September 21, 1940. He entered the United States Navy on November 24, 1943. After completing his training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, he was assigned to the USS LST (Landing Ship Tank) 289 in the European Theater. During practice landings for the D-Day Invasion, his ship and others were attacked by German E-boats off the coast of England near Slapton Sands. Earl rescued one shipmate and was attempting to rescue another when he received a compound fracture to the head. He died shortly after and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. |
| Category |
8: Communication Artifact |
| Classification |
Archives |
| Collection |
World War II Small Collections |
| Dates of Accumulation |
1945 |
| Abstract |
Booklet, "The Invader: Being an Illustrated history of 345 Days Aboard the USS LST 289." The booklet chronicles the history of USS LST (Landing Ship Tank) 289 from 1944-1945. It contains brief biographies of the officers and each department on the ship. It also contains a brief account when on April 28, 1944 the ship was attacked by German E-boats off the coast of England during practice for the D-Day Invasion. Eight men were killed in action; five were missing in action; and thirty-three men were wounded. Earl V. Muza of Oshkosh was killed and awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his actions that day. |
| Event |
World War II |
| Legal Status |
Oshkosh Public Museum |
| Object ID |
SC411.11.1.1 |
| Object Name |
Booklet |
| People |
Muza, Earl Valentine
Muza, May Ruth |
| Subjects |
World War II
United States Navy
Ships
Shipwrecks
Casualties
European Theater of Operations
Heroes
Awards |
| Title |
The Invader: Being an Illustrated history of 345 Days Aboard the USS LST 289 |
