Muriel Rose Engelman

Muriel Engelman was born on Jan. 12, 1921, in Meriden, CT, to Marion and Samuel Phillips. Graduating from Meriden High School in 1938 and the Cambridge Hospital School of Nursing in Cambridge, MA, as a Registered Nurse in 1942, Muriel was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps in April 1943. Requesting overseas duty, she was sent to Ft. Devens, MA, to become a member of the 16th General Hospital. After the war, Muriel married the late Melvin A. Engelman, DDS, and lived for the next fifty years in Wappingers Falls, NY, where Dr. Engelman maintained his dental practice.
Muriel served in the Army of World War II for almost two years in England, France and Belgium. In December and January of 1944-45 in Liege, Belgium, where her tent hospital was frequently strafed and suffered hits by German buzz bombs dropped during the Battle of the Bulge. Completing her army service as a 1st Lieutenant, she was awarded medals for: the American Campaign; the European Campaign with 3 Battle Stars for Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes; the World War II Victory; and the Army of Occupation; along with the Belgian Fourragere, and the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque. On September 20, 2018, Muriel was appointed a Chevalier (Knight) of the National Order of the Legion of Honor by decree of the President of France Emmanuel Macron, as "a sign of France's infinite gratitude and appreciation for your personal and precious contribution to the Allies' decisive role in the liberation of our country during World War II."
2008 saw the publication of her memoir Mission Accomplished: Stop the Clock. In December 2010, Muriel and Mel relocated to Laguna Woods Village, CA. Since 2010, Muriel devoted herself to being living history, speaking to veteran's groups and high school and college classes around CA about her life and war experiences. Her presentations were riveting, and she always moved her audiences. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIugRv6XP2U
Muriel is survived by their children Curtis Engelman of Binghamton, NY, and Dr. Suzanne Engelman of Laguna Niguel, CA, her two grandsons Morgan and Aaron, and 2 great grand-children Marli and Maverick. She will sorely be missed, and remembered for her love of life and generous nature of spirt.
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