LaVern H. Langel

Korean War

LaVern Langel was born near Templeton on July 3, 1934, to Joseph and Mary (Bauer) Langel. LaVern attended Sacred Heart School in Templeton. On April 23, 1957, he married Louetta Hoffman at Holy Angels Church in Roselle, Iowa.

On June 4, 1957, LaVern was inducted into the US Army at Omaha, NE. He was assigned serial number 55 393 443. He was sent to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas for basic training. By August 12, 1957, he completed basic training and was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Howitzer Battalion of the 78th Artillery at Fort Hood, TX. Advanced training in artillery was conducted at Fort Hood. During this time, Louetta had followed him to Texas.

At this time, the 78th Artillery was relieved of its assignment to the 2nd Armored Division. LaVern’s unit became part of the 4th Armored Division. It then moved to Fort Gordon, GA for additional training. Louetta also followed LaVern on this move.

By late 1957, LaVern’s unit was sent to Europe as a part of Operation Gyroscope, part of the NATO commitment to defend the Western democracies. Division headquarters were established at Goppingen in south central Germany near Stuttgart. Various units of the 4th Armored Division were stationed at installations in the area. Louetta was not allowed to accompany LaVern to Europe and she returned to Carroll.

LaVern remained in West Germany for the remaining 17 months of his enlistment. In May, 1959, he was returned to the United States. He was discharged from the US Army on May 14, 1959, with the rank of PFC (private first class).

LaVern moved to Carroll where he worked in construction. In 1966, the family moved to the family farm north of Templeton where he farmed for the rest of his life. LaVern died in Carroll, IA on February 18, 2026, at age 91. He was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton.