LEADS TROOPS INTO COLOGNE
First Lt. Mervyn Teig of Stanhope Among First in City.
Stanhope—According to a news dispatch from allied headquarters in Europe, First Lt. Mervyn B. Teig, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin J. Teig of Stanhope, led the first unit of the famed 104th (Timber Wolves) division into Cologne, Germany, on Monday of this week.
Lieutenant Teig, recently honored with a presidential citation for meritorious action in bringing back the wounded men during battle, has also been awarded the bronze star medal for meritorious achievement in connection with military operations in Germany, Dec. 12, 1944. According to the official citation from headquarters of the 104th infantry division to which he is attached, the lieutenant assumed command of his company when all other officers were casualties and led in the capture of a ridge and in the seizing of 29 prisoners. Through a heavy barrage from the enemy which inflicted many casualties in his company, Lieutenant Teig left his covered position and crawled 50 yards forward to establish an observation post despite mortar and artillery fire and snipers’ bullets. From there he directed artillery fire on enemy positions until nazi positions had been knocked out. Then he led the company across an open field and into a town which was the main objective.
The Stanhope officer, in service since December, 1942, was commissioned at Fort Benning, Ga., in March, 1943. Prior to entering the army he was in partnership with his father on the Teig farm near Stanhope.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - March 9, 1945 (photo included)
NOTES:
Mervin Bonner Teig was born Feb. 15, 1916 to Martin Johannes and Emma Josephine West Teig. He died May 18, 2001 and is buried in Memorial Park, Mason City, IA.
*Lt. Teig received the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Cluster, French Croix de Guerre, Normandy Invasion Medal, Army Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and European Service Ribbon with three Battle Stars.
His Obituary: Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City, IA - May 20, 2001
MASON CITY - Mervin B. Teig, 85, of 336 21st Street S.W., died Friday (May 18, 2001) at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, Mason City, with the Rev. Douglas Anderson officiating. Internment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, with full military rites by the Iowa Army National Guard.
Friends may call from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to the Mervin B. Teig Memorial Fund.
Mervin B. Teig was born Feb. 15, 1916, in Story County, the son of Martin and Emma Teig. He graduated from Stanhope Iowa Consolidated School and later graduated from business school in Chillicothe, Mo.
He lived on the family farm near Stanhope where he enjoyed raising and exhibiting Chester White hogs. He exhibited the hogs at local, state and international fairs.
He entered the United States Army at the Fort Des Moines Induction Center where he served as an induction clerk in 1941 until receiving a commission as Second Lieutenant from Fort Benning, Ga., in 1943. He was assigned to the 104th Infantry Division until the end of the war in 1945. During his career in the Army, he served as a Platoon Leader and Company Commander through the European Campaign in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He received the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Cluster, French Croix de Guerre, Normandy Invasion Medal, Army Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European Service Ribbon with three Battle Stars.
Mervin was united in marriage to Crystal Brownlee in 1942 at the First United Methodist Church in Bethany, Mo. Three daughters were born to this union. Two of the girls died in infancy and their daughter, Kathy, passed away in 1998 at 50 years of age.
He worked for 16 years with Standard Oil Company as department head in the division office and as a traveling internal auditor. He also worked for 15 years with Wallace Holland Kastler Schmitz Consulting Firm as business manager.
He was proud to have partnered with Holland and Teig in developing Fair Meadows Subdivision in Mason City. He and Crystal developed Crystal Heights Addition in Ventura. He retired in 1978.
Mervin was a member of First United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge and the American Legion. He also served on many local boards and commissions as president and board member. He enjoyed golfing, woodworking, fishing and traveling with his wife.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Crystal Teig, Mason City; grandchildren, Jennifer Deziel of Des Moines and Brian Deziel and his wife, Mary, of Houston, Texas; a step-granddaughter, Susan Heft of Ames; a brother, Tilford Teig and his wife, Wilda, of Stanhope; a son-in-law, Glen Deziel of Mason City; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughters, Elice, Sharon and Kathy; and brothers, Norman, Everett, and Wendell.
Sources: ancestry.com
