The American St. Nick tells the remarkable TRUE story of a handful of American soldiers who during the chaos of war, help bring Christmas back a small Luxembourg town, and unknowingly create a holiday tradition that continues to this very day!
It's December 1944, the Germans are retreating. It appears the war in Europe may be over soon, but not soon enough for members of the battle-worn 28th Infantry Division. Knowing they won't be home again for the Holidays, soldiers from a 112th regiment Signal Company Message Center in the storybook town of Wiltz, realize that although the town has been liberated after nearly five years of Nazi occupation, the ravages of war have left the townspeople with nothing to celebrate the season. For the children, it will be especially bleak without the hope of candies, treats or gifts on the normally town-wide celebration of St. Nicolas Day.
Hearing this, Corporal Harry Stutz gets an idea. He gathers some fellow soldiers and together they organize a Christmas party for the children, a party that will include a special visit from St. Nicolas himself, thanks to a reluctant Corporal Richard Brookins.
Wearing the mass robes of the local priest and a crudely fashioned rope beard to complete the costume, St. Nicolas rides through town on an Army jeep, stopping to meet the children and passing out treats baked by the Army cooks or donated from the soldier's care packages from home. Later the celebration continues with a party for all the children at the Wiltz Castle. It is a wonderful day for the children of Wiltz and for the American soldiers as well.
Ten days later however the Battle of the Bulge erupts in the Ardennes; Wiltz and the 28th Infantry Division are overrun. In the weeks of fighting that followed, most of the town is damaged or destroyed, mostly from Allied bombing. Tragically, some of the townspeople including children were killed. The joy of that one St. Nicolas day was gone...but not forgotten.
Following the war Wiltz rebuilt and those who survived vowed never to forget the kindness and generosity of those few American soldiers that one St. Nicolas Day. From then on, to honor those soldiers, the Wiltz St. Nicolas Day celebration would include a new tradition: someone would dress not as St. Nicolas, but rather as the American St. Nicolas and recreate his 1944 Jeep ride through town and party after. This tradition has continued faithfully for more than seven decades.
An amazing TRUE story of war, honor, luck and love, The American St. Nick is a thrilling and heart-warming holiday classic packed full of incredible details that will amaze, entertain and delight.

American St. Nick: A TRUE story of Christmas and WWII that's never been forgotten

History

Lion, Peter

Military

Tfe Publishing

American St. Nick recounts when, during the darkest days of World War II, a handful of American soldiers help bring the Christmas spirit back to the children of war-weary Wiltz, Luxembourg. With their simple act of kindness and selfless generosity, they unknowingly created a holiday tradition that continues in to this very day. This is an amazing true story of heroism, honor and hope you ll never forget.

American St. Nick: A True Story

Europe

Plain Sight

George Mergenthaler, the grandson of the inventor of the Linotype, was an only child and at the time of his birth in 1920, became the sole male heir to the family fortune. Tall, handsome, Ivy League educated, speaking fluent German and French, "MERG" as he was known to his friends, did what many in his generation did following the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor: he enlisted in the Army.Insisting on serving as a buck-private, George was assigned to a Recon Troop that would see action after the D-Day invasion in France, Belgium and Luxembourg. Following the horrific fighting in the Huertgen forest, the 28th Cavalry Recon Troop was sent west for R&R, to a small farming village in Luxembourg called Eschweiler. For the next month the Recon Troop soldiers lived amongst the townspeople, sharing their homes, meals, hopes and dreams. A devout Catholic, George spent much of his free time in the town's small church, St. Mauritius, chatting and getting to know the local priest. Quickly, the two bonded, sharing a friendship not unlike that of long-lost brothers.In mid-December however, their peaceful stay in Eschweiler was shattered by the Battle of the Bulge. Nearly surrounded by the enemy, the Recon Troop soldiers were forced to retreat from the town. Dodging enemy fire, their convoy drove down a winding road, towards the cover of nearby woods. Rounding a corner they were ambushed by the spearhead of the German advance in that sector. Pinned down, with capture or death seeming their only options, George jumped into the command jeep and manned a .50-cal machine gun, proving how exceptional he truly was.

Merg: The TRUE story of a WWII soldier's selfless act of valor and sacrifice that one town never forgot.

Biographies & Memoirs

Historical

American soldiers are more than combatants on a battlefield, they are also representatives of America and her people. On an overcast day in 1944, two soldiers from the 28th Infantry Division gave a remarkable Christmas gift to the people of Wiltz, Luxembourg - a gift that changed the people of Wiltz forever.

The American St. Nick

Leaders & Notable People

Windriver Pub Inc

An only son, heir to a family fortune; a small war-torn town in Luxembourg; and the only church IN THE WORLD dedicated to a single American soldier from WWII.George Mergenthaler was that soldier. This is his remarkable TRUE story.

MERG: A WWII Soldier Gave the Town the Greatest Love The Town Never Forgot It

History Publishing