
War hero James “Maggie” Megellas hasn’t slowed down.
The 91-year-old Fond du Lac native is busy signing copies of his books for U.S. troops overseas, planning trips to Afghanistan and speaking to students and soldiers throughout the country.
Since writing “All the Way to Berlin,” a book about his experiences in World War II, Megellas said his life has become busier than ever.
Megellas, now of Texas, returned to Fond du Lac this week to attend the re-dedication of the Fond du Lac County Veterans Memorial Building. The building will be renamed in his honor. The dedication ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 19, at the Veterans Memorial Building, 500 Fond du Lac Ave.
After a storied career in the U.S. Army and in government service, Megellas has become a living legend. History channel producers have interviewed him about the battles he fought. Companies have interviewed him for a video game. He even has an action figure.
Megellas is the most decorated officer in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division. He was awarded more than 25 medals, including the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts. In 2007, U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, introduced a bill in the House suggesting that the president award Megellas with the Congressional Medal of Honor. Recently, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, introduced a similar bill in the U.S. Senate.
On Tuesday, Megellas sat down with The Reporter to talk about his life and what some of those honors mean to him. Questions and answers follow.
Q: How does the re-naming of the Fond du Lac County Veterans Memorial Building in your honor rank among all of the honors you have received?
A: “There are a number of honors that I’ve gotten that have been distinctive. For example, recently I was awarded the medallion of the Primicerius by the National Infantry Association, that body’s highest order. However, this (Saturday’s dedication ceremony in his honor) has special significance for me because it’s my hometown. The honor and respect you receive from your peers is especially significant because they know me the best. It’s very meaningful and very humbling. It’s different; you’re never a hero in your hometown.”
Q: What do you think about the efforts to obtain for you the Congressional Medal of Honor?
A: “The present effort got started several years ago. I thought about it at the time and thought, ‘So what?’ But my buddies, the people I served with, they said it was a reflection on all of us, on all of the 82nd.
“It has greater significance than the man who wears it. It’s an honor for Fond du Lac, an honor for Wisconsin, for all of us. I never thought about it at the time. When you’re a combat soldier, you don’t have time. There are a countless number of guys who did stuff that was never recognized. No officer in the 82nd Airborne has been awarded one. Later, I thought, ‘This is a reflection on the unit — esprit de corps.’ Then I thought, ‘Give it a try.”‘
Q: What has caused the delay in approving the bill?
A: “It’s not a controversial bill, it’s not a funding bill, it is not a pork barrel bill. What they’re talking about is awarding the highest medal this country has and that isn’t taken lightly. A lot of justification for the bill wasn’t included in the original citation. It’s a very difficult thing to get. I don’t know how the system works, but I know it has a slim chance of making it to the (Senate) floor. A lot of these things, if they aren’t voted on in committee, they die. … It would be nice if they at least voted on it.”
Q: Can you tell us about what you will speak about on Saturday?
A: “I was born here and I can personalize history in ways historians cannot — what the American Legion meant to me, how the city responded.
“I’ll probably reflect on the building and the members who have been there and how they continue to serve the community today. I remember when I was at Washington Elementary School at Doty and Follett. At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 (Armistice Day then, Veterans Day today), we all stood and faced east and all the sirens went off. I remember the impact it had on me growing up — the military history of Fond du Lac.
“I remember seeing Civil War veterans in the Memorial Day parade. I don’t have anything written, no notes. I’ll just talk about whatever comes to me. … I speak at a lot of schools and one thing I tell them is: ‘If you really want to honor your veterans, you’ll lead your life on the principles we fought for.’”
Q: What are some of the differences between World War II and the current war?
A: “We knew the war would end. Now, our troops are in it for the duration, one tour at a time. And they don’t know when it is going to end.
“The technology has changed, but two things have remained the same: One, the quality and caliber (of the troops) is every bit as good; the second is we will not achieve our objective until we have troops on the ground.
“We don’t have enough troops on the ground to complete our worldwide duty. We don’t have the ground forces. I don’t go around criticizing the military. The important thing is that we support our troops.”
Q: What is the solution?
A: “The solution is to institute the draft or selective service. … Where is the sacrifice? Everyone is waiting around for a rebate check. Before (World War II era), everyone was involved. Today, it’s just the military and their families who are sacrificing. America is at war, but the American people are not at war.”
Q: The 50th anniversary of Fond du Lac’s City Council form of government is coming up. As the first City Council president, do you have any thoughts on how things have worked out?
A: “Before that (the Council-Manager form of local government), we had the commission form of government. Fond du Lac was known as the Fountain City. But the commission decided to abandon the wells.
“They hired a surface water specialist to come in, and the specialist said we should get our water from the lake. That really shook up people. There was a referendum and they changed the form of government.
“Everybody wanted a part in the new government. I remember 48 people ran for seven City Council seats. I ran and I got elected. One of the first things we did was bring in a groundwater specialist.
“There was a photo of me in the newspaper when they turned the bubblers back on. We also bought a lot of land around the city. … A lot of the things we envisioned have come to pass and that is very satisfying. I’m quite pleased to see the progress that has been made 50 years later.”