Merle J. Langel

Korean War

Merle Langel was born on April 6, 1934, near Templeton to Adolph and Gladys (Reinart) Langel. His mother died in 1940. Merle attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Sacred Heart High School with the class of 1954.

Merle was inducted into the US Army on April 2, 1957, in Omaha with three other Carroll County men. He was assigned serial number 55 593 167. He reported to Fort Carson near Colorado Springs, CO for basic training. By May 18, 1957, he was a member of the 4th Platoon, Company I of the 39th Infantry Regiment. His training continued at Fort Carson until the late summer of 1957.

The 1950’s were a tense time as the Soviet Union gained nuclear capability and the Cold War was escalating. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) had been signed in 1949 as a military alliance to counter the threat of the Soviet Union in Europe. US Army troops were stationed in a variety of locations in France and Germany. In September, 1957, Merle was sent to Europe as a part of the US Army’s commitment to NATO.

At this time, there were four main US Army bases in France. It appears that Merle was assigned to the US Army Garrison at Orleans, about 75 miles southwest of Paris. The Army role was to serve as a deterrent to Soviet aggression. In addition, their reception by the French government and the French people was not always warm and strict regulations were in place.

By March, 1959, Merle’s enlistment was nearing its end. He was returned to the United States and was discharged on March 18, 1959, at Fort Sheridan, IL with the rank of SP4 (specialist fourth class). Merle returned to Carroll County and was employed as manager of Felco Feeds Company in Templeton. On February 24, 1962, Merle was married to Theresa Veit of Odebolt at St. Joseph Church in Carroll.

In 1963, the couple moved to Williamsburg, IA where Merle was employed by Amana Refrigeration Company. On April 21, 1967, Merle was killed at age 33 in an automobile accident near South Amana while on his way to work. He was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton.