Later he transferred to the army air corps as an airplane mechanic, first at Kelly field, then at Laughlin field in Del Rio Texas. While at the latter place, he was selected for special training at the Boeing aircraft plant in Seattle Washington, graduating with the highest class honors, he was sent to lowery field Colorado, and Smoky Hill Kansas for Flight Engineer training, sent to the pacific, he was stationed on Guam, from where he flew combat missions.

He and his comrades met death on June 20th 1945 on a night mission when their Boeing B-29 plane and another American plane collided over Shizouka, Japan. Their bodies were cremated and were later turned over to the AMERICAN GRAVE SERVICES. ID was made at the end of the war. Reburial services with full military honors were held March 8th 1949 at Zachary Taylor National cemetery Louisville Kentucky.

M/SGT Kuehler had been awarded the following 13 medals of recognition: Purple Heart, Air Medal, with one oak leaf cluster, Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre ribbon with 1 bronze star for the air offensive of Japan, American Defense Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, Army Air Forces Technician Badge with airplane mechanic bar, aviation badge, flight engineer expert badge with pistol bar, sharpshooter badge with carbine bar.

Gerhard has a daughter who lives in San Antonio, TX;. His wife Velma (my mom) remarried in 1954. She is now 84 years old and still resides in San Antonio Texas.