George O. Mergenthaler Memorial
Details:
The memorial is situated on a slightly raised area between two flagpoles. Monument The memorial is a stone stele between two flagpoles. On the facade of the memorial there is a cross as well as a French text remembering the solider George O. Mergenthaler. A stone slab protrudes from the stele base.
http://www.ryeww2.org/mergenthaler-george-o-3825-prd1.htm
"George was a member of a Mechanized Reconnaissance Unit of the 28th Infantry Division. On December 18, 1944 his unit was ambushed by the enemy in Luxemburg. George was in the middle of the convoy in a jeep. He jumped to the rear seat of the vehicle and took control of the 50 caliber machine-gun and urged his fellow soldiers to run to a ditch. His machine gun jammed twice; the second jamming afforded a wounded German soldier to crawl behind George and kill him at close range with a short burst from his submachine gun. George Mergenthaler died near the town he came to adopt, Eschweiler, Luxembourg."
Monument Text:
(Original French text)
EN CET ENDROIT LE 18 DÉCEMBRE, 1944
LE SOLDAT AMÉRICAIN VAILLANT
GEORGE O. MERGENTHALER EST MORT
POUR LA LIBERTÉ DU MONDE. IL FUT
ENTERRÉ PAR LE CURÉ A. HOBSON AU
CEMETIERE BY ESCHWEILER JUSQU'AU
JOUR DE SON TRANSFERT À NEW YORK EN 1947.
EN RECONNAISSANCE
FAMILLE ANDRÉ WOLFF
LUXEMBOURG
MY FATHER DO NOT FEAR
"I WILL DEFEND YOU"
(English translation)
IN THIS AREA ON THE THE 18th of DECEMBER, 1944
THE VALIANT AMERICAN SOLDIER
GEORGE O. MERGENTHALER DIED
FOR THE WORLD'S FREEDOM. HE WAS
BURIED BY PRIEST A. HOBSON
IN A CEMETERY NEAR ESCHWEILER JUST BEFORE THE
DAY OF HIS TRANSFER TO NEW YORK IN 1947.
IN REMEMBRANCE
FAMILY ANDREW WOLFF
LUXEMBOURG
MY FATHER DO NOT FEAR
"I WILL DEFEND YOU"
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
28th Infantry Division
United States Army
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Battle of the Bulge
Other images :
