When the Battle of the Bulge broke out:
The troop was sent to reinforce the divisional headquarters in Wiltz. Late in the morning on December 18th, a convoy of six vehicles left Eschweiler and headed south towards Wiltz. As the line of vehicles neared the crossroads of Café Halte, a German tank opened fire, destroying the lead vehicle in the convoy. The GIs quickly ran for the cover of the surrounding woods but German troops were everywhere. The Americans had driven into an ambush. George Mergenthaler, riding in the command jeep, the third vehicle in the convoy, immediately jumped up and manned the .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the jeep. He sprayed the woods with machine gun bursts, pinning down the enemy as the other GIs scrambled for cover, searching for a way of escaping. Then George's gun jammed. As he worked to clear the jam, the Germans began returning fire. Bullets sizzled the air and pinged off the sides of the Jeep. One GI saw what was happening and began firing with his M1 Gerrand. He saw a German soldier with a submachine gun moving along a roadside ditch, trying to get close to Mergenthaler. He took aim and fired, hitting the German in the hand. It bought enough time for George to clear the jam, rethread the ammo, and begin firing the 50 cal at the Germans once again. After a few short bursts, the gun jammed once more and again George tried to clear it. The wounded German saw what was happening, cradled his weapon on his arm, and fired a burst at George, striking him in the neck.
Officially, George had been listed as MIA, but in late March of 1945, his body was discovered in a shallow grave, only a few hundred yards from the town that had come to love him. The townspeople reburied George in the cemetery of the church where he had spent so much time while he was in Eschweiler.
A few weeks later, George's parents found out what had happened to their only son when the priest from St. Maurice wrote a letter informing them of their son's fate. The priest also explained how much George meant to the people of the town and how they felt as if George was "one of their own". Touched by the kindness the people of Eschweiler showed towards their only son, the Mergenthalers, offered to pay for the war-damaged church of St. Maurice to be rebuilt.
Today the church in Eschweiler stands as a tribute to George Mergenthaler. It is the only church in Luxembourg and perhaps the world, that is dedicated to a single American soldier. Of the many tributes to George that the church has to offer, perhaps none is more striking than the mural painted on the back wall above the altar. There you'll see the figure of Jesus feeding the masses, aided by one of his apostles; an apostle wearing a field green American GI uniform and bearing the likeness of George Mergenthaler.
Contributor: mkh (48317203)
November 13, 1984 Speech By President Ronald Reagan Of George Mergenthaler.
At the State Dinner for the Duke of Luxembourg:
"And tonight, as we look to the future, it's fitting to remain mindful of our past. Forty years ago, Your Highness, Americans, and Luxembourgers fought side by side to liberate your nation. Throughout America today, there are thousands of men who can still recall the tear-streaked faces of your people when they realized that at long last they were free.
To me, the most memorable story is about a strapping young American named George Mergenthaler. For several weeks, George was stationed in the village of Eschweiler, in World War II. He had a winning personality, and before long, the good people of Eschweiler took him into their homes and hearts. They told him what life in the village had been like before the war and then during the Nazi occupation. And George, in turn, opened his heart. He told the people that he was an only son, and told them all his hopes for when the war was over. And in those few weeks, a deep bond formed between the people of that ancient village and the amiable young Yankee.
Some time afterward, the people of Eschweiler learned that George had taken part in a fierce battle on the plains between Luxembourg and Belgium. It was called the Battle of the Bulge. And it cost George his life.
Today, 40 years later, there is still a plaque honoring George Mergenthaler in the Eschweiler village church. It reads simply: ''This only son died that others' sons might live in love and peace.''
The speech above by President Reagan was viewed worldwide, and even today it can be found in video and text form on many media platforms.
Contributor (GQS): 5214136
When the Battle of the Bulge broke out:
The troop was sent to reinforce the divisional headquarters in Wiltz. Late in the morning on December 18th, a convoy of six vehicles left Eschweiler and headed south towards Wiltz. As the line of vehicles neared the crossroads of Café Halte, a German tank opened fire, destroying the lead vehicle in the convoy. The GIs quickly ran for the cover of the surrounding woods but German troops were everywhere. The Americans had driven into an ambush. George Mergenthaler, riding in the command jeep, the third vehicle in the convoy, immediately jumped up and manned the .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the jeep. He sprayed the woods with machine gun bursts, pinning down the enemy as the other GIs scrambled for cover, searching for a way of escaping. Then George's gun jammed. As he worked to clear the jam, the Germans began returning fire. Bullets sizzled the air and pinged off the sides of the Jeep. One GI saw what was happening and began firing with his M1 Gerrand. He saw a German soldier with a submachine gun moving along a roadside ditch, trying to get close to Mergenthaler. He took aim and fired, hitting the German in the hand. It bought enough time for George to clear the jam, rethread the ammo, and begin firing the 50 cal at the Germans once again. After a few short bursts, the gun jammed once more and again George tried to clear it. The wounded German saw what was happening, cradled his weapon on his arm, and fired a burst at George, striking him in the neck.
Officially, George had been listed as MIA, but in late March of 1945, his body was discovered in a shallow grave, only a few hundred yards from the town that had come to love him. The townspeople reburied George in the cemetery of the church where he had spent so much time while he was in Eschweiler.
A few weeks later, George's parents found out what had happened to their only son when the priest from St. Maurice wrote a letter informing them of their son's fate. The priest also explained how much George meant to the people of the town and how they felt as if George was "one of their own". Touched by the kindness the people of Eschweiler showed towards their only son, the Mergenthalers, offered to pay for the war-damaged church of St. Maurice to be rebuilt.
Today the church in Eschweiler stands as a tribute to George Mergenthaler. It is the only church in Luxembourg and perhaps the world, that is dedicated to a single American soldier. Of the many tributes to George that the church has to offer, perhaps none is more striking than the mural painted on the back wall above the altar. There you'll see the figure of Jesus feeding the masses, aided by one of his apostles; an apostle wearing a field green American GI uniform and bearing the likeness of George Mergenthaler.
Contributor: mkh (48317203)
November 13, 1984 Speech By President Ronald Reagan Of George Mergenthaler.
At the State Dinner for the Duke of Luxembourg:
"And tonight, as we look to the future, it's fitting to remain mindful of our past. Forty years ago, Your Highness, Americans, and Luxembourgers fought side by side to liberate your nation. Throughout America today, there are thousands of men who can still recall the tear-streaked faces of your people when they realized that at long last they were free.
To me, the most memorable story is about a strapping young American named George Mergenthaler. For several weeks, George was stationed in the village of Eschweiler, in World War II. He had a winning personality, and before long, the good people of Eschweiler took him into their homes and hearts. They told him what life in the village had been like before the war and then during the Nazi occupation. And George, in turn, opened his heart. He told the people that he was an only son, and told them all his hopes for when the war was over. And in those few weeks, a deep bond formed between the people of that ancient village and the amiable young Yankee.
Some time afterward, the people of Eschweiler learned that George had taken part in a fierce battle on the plains between Luxembourg and Belgium. It was called the Battle of the Bulge. And it cost George his life.
Today, 40 years later, there is still a plaque honoring George Mergenthaler in the Eschweiler village church. It reads simply: ''This only son died that others' sons might live in love and peace.''
The speech above by President Reagan was viewed worldwide, and even today it can be found in video and text form on many media platforms.
Contributor (GQS): 5214136
Gravesite Details
BurialDate:12/06/1947
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