Heroic Legacy Memorial Day 2009

more about “Herios Legacy“, posted with vodpod

A MAN OF PRECIOUS METTLE
Hope remains for World War II hero ‘Maggie’ Megellas to receive Medal of Honor

In the span of American history, only four Fond du Lac residents have garnered the Medal of Honor.

Even though it has been more than a century since another homegrown individual has garnered the award, the fact remains that someone someday will join this elite number.

“The Medal of Honor is something that every soldier aspires to,” said Marcus Oksa, commander of American Legion Post 75 in Fond du Lac. “But it is the rare occasion that the Medal of Honor scenarios present themselves.”

The only living Fond du Lac native in line for the recognition is James “Maggie” Megellas, who fought in the European theater during World War II, including Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.

During a clash near Herresbach, Belgium, on Jan. 28, 1945, 1st Lt. Megellas of H Company 504th PIR led his platoon against a Nazi assault. In doing so, he charged a tank, hit it with a grenade, jumped on the turret, threw another grenade into the hatch and destroyed the heavy armor. This all happened while he was under fire. His efforts helped his company kill 180 enemy troops and take another 200 as prisoners.

Megellas was originally recommended for the Medal of Honor shortly thereafter. However, his heroic one-man assault was omitted from the original accounts, resulting in the recommendation being downgraded to the Silver Star.

Sixty-two years later, in 2007, U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, introduced a bill to have Megellas’ award upgraded to Medal of Honor status. That bill died at the end of the last Congressional session when no action was taken on it. Nonetheless, lawmakers could reintroduce legislation in current or future sessions.

“He should be wearing a Medal of Honor. Anyone who attacks a tank with a rifle and a couple of grenades is clearly doing something above and beyond the call of duty,” said John Wertschnig, Fond du Lac County Veterans Service officer.

Megellas, 92, the most-decorated officer in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division, lives in Colleyville, Texas.

Heroic legacy

Beyond discussions of honor and glory, several facts underlie how special — and how rare — a Medal of Honor truly is.

The Civil War alone accounts for nearly half the nation’s Medal of Honor recipients. Two of the four Fond du Lac County recipients earned the honor during this conflict. In fact, the county has not recorded a recipient in more than 100 years.

About one in every five Medal of Honor recipients never lived to see their recognition — they were killed in the very battles that earned them the commendation.”It’s the kind of selfless act that someone would do for someone else,” Wertschnig said. “They’re not doing it for themselves, they’re doing it … for the guy standing next to them. The guy who falls on the grenade is clearly sacrificing his life — or he expects to sacrifice it.”Oksa echoed the sentiment, noting, “The Medal of Honor (is) the symbol of the ultimate dedication to duty and honor for the United States of America in combat.”Even though the Fond du Lac City County Government Center, 160 S. Macy St., does house a memorial to those killed in military conflicts through history, it does not have a marker or monument recognizing its Medal of Honor recipients.”We need to acknowledge these people in Fond du Lac County who have received the Medal of Honor,” said Fond du Lac County Executive Allen Buechel. “It is a distinction … and they are true heroes.”

Interview James “Maggie” Megellas about Operation Market Garden 1944

Interview with LTC James “Maggie” Megellas, World War II veteran of the 82nd airborne division. This interview took place during the press event of the game Brothers in Arms Hell’s Highway at the Wings of Liberation museum in the Netherlands.

Veteran is special guest for race team

Every year at O’Reilly Raceway Park thousands of people gather for the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Clermont.

Some call it the Super Bowl of Drag Racing. One race team brought in a super star to inspire their team this year.

Labor Day weekend is weekend is full of excitement, drag racing and hot rod competition.

“This is a tremendous sport that’s gaining in popularity,” James Megellas said.

The races are so popular, fans travel from across the country for the big weekend.

For a few days, teams battle it out for a top spot and bragging rights.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel James Megellas should know about battles and war, “War is the most brutal form of human endeavor.”

The 91-year-old World War II veteran is the most decorated officer in the history of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.

“The true nature of war, which is the war, which I fought in and everyone since,” Ret. Lt. Col. Megellas said.

Megellas is a guest of The Wiely X Pro Stock Team. The team’s owner is a veteran. They also produce and manufacture ballistic eye protection for U.S. Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I figured we bring Jim “Maggie” Megellas in to inspire the race team and get some performance going in that direction,” Myles Freeman with Wiley X Inc. said.

Lt. Col. Megellas has more than 20 medals to prove his battles. He has earned two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts and the Distinguished Service Cross.

He’s also a Master Parachutist.

“He’s been there, he’s lived it, he know’s what they are going through. He understands they need the support from our loved ones at home,” Freeman said.

“It is fought by young men and women who are on the cutting edge of the battlefield who will determine whether or not we loose,” Lt. Col. Megellas explained.

Retired Lt. Colonel James Megellas plans to make his second trip to Afghanistan to meet with U.S. soldiers next month.

FdL recognizes true man of honor: Jim Megellas

Jim Megellas made it perfectly clear during the past few days that special honors bestowed by his hometown rank among the most meaningful of his life.

And the 91-year-old World War II hero and Congressional Medal of Honor nominee has indeed relished an interesting and meaningful life.

The Fond du Lac County Veterans Memorial Building at 500 Fond du Lac Ave. was named in his honor Saturday. He has been a card-carrying member of Fond du Lac’s Trier-Puddy American Legion Post 75 for 61 years. Family members, friends, Army buddies old and new, and fellow Fond du Lac residents gathered to celebrate the honor with him. As he would gladly tell anyone within earshot, it was an honor not only for him but also for the community that nurtured and molded him.

For those who don’t know Megellas, it’s worth pointing out that he is a genuine war hero and a person dedicated to a life of public service.

For those who do know him, nothing more needs to be said.

It’s time to decide

The description of his gallantry at the Battle of the Bulge reads like the climax of a movie. His book, “All the Way to Berlin: A Paratrooper at War in Europe,” is a bestseller. He is the most decorated officer in the history of the acclaimed 82nd Airborne Division. Among his more than 20 military medals are The Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.

It’s no secret that he deserves the nation’s highest military honor — the Congressional Medal of Honor — even if it is six decades too late. Bills exist in the House and U.S. Senate urging that the highest honor be accorded to Megellas. It’s about time Congress voted.

I had the pleasure to meet Megellas last week during his hometown visit. There is an indefinable quality about him that emanates from people of his caliber. There is nothing “91” about him, except the wisdom and the insights that naturally flow from experiences of people of that vintage.

Thoughts and insights

He talked about the Medal of Honor, his regard for today’s soldiers, the need for a military draft and the seemingly unending war in which the nation is embroiled.

“It has greater significance than the man who wears it,” he said of the Medal of the Honor. It would be “an honor for Fond du Lac, an honor for Wisconsin, for all of us.”

On the status of the War on Terror, he noted, “America is at war, but the American people are not at war.”

Unlike the World War II era, the only ones making sacrifices in the war effort are the troops and their families, he stressed.

His most animated, almost joyous, comments came in response to a question about where he went to grade school.

“Washington School at the corner of Doty and Follett,” he said with a wide grin he couldn’t tone down even if he had wanted to. The memories poured out as fast as he could frame the sentences.

Boyhood memories

He remembered the Armistice Days of his boyhood and how all the sirens in the city sounded and students faced east at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to recall the end of Word War I and honor those who had died.

He recalled Civil War and Spanish-American War veterans in the city’s Memorial Day parades.

“I remember the impact it had on me growing up — the military history of Fond du Lac,” he added.

He also remembered Sarah Fahey, the principal at Washington School in the distinctive Greek neighborhood near Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox and St. Louis churches on the city’s northwest side. Washington School is long gone, but the Fahey School building on Doty Street stands as a reminder of a special ethnic neighborhood and an educator who obviously left her mark on local members of the Greatest Generation.

Abiding by his principles

It’s interesting to me that stories about Jim Megellas and the contentious issue of diversity appeared side by side at the top of Page 1 on Wednesday.

To those who might not know, suffice it to say that Fond du Lac does not have a sterling record in the area of welcoming people of color, those of different creeds or others viewed as “outside” its traditional mainstream.

As a member of a distinct ethnic minority, Megellas experienced the sting of prejudice and discrimination. So did his Washington School classmates, the great majority of whom distinguished themselves during the war and the years since.

It’s not a subject Megellas dwells on. But it is a part of him. He proved throughout his life what is important to him. He had the highest regard for his ethnic background, his city, his country and the principles on which this nation was founded.

He understood the principles for which he fought even if others in his treasured hometown did not. He did his duty to the utmost of his ability.

For that alone, he is a man of honor.

Michael Mentzer

Building renamed in honor of war hero

American flags lined the street Saturday in front of Fond du Lac’s American Legion Post 75, welcoming a soldier home.

Neon beer signs glowed in the windows of the gathering place on Fond du Lac Avenue known to generations of military veterans, and a soft light parted rain clouds as James Megellas, 91, stood to speak.

The front of his tailored suit flanked with medals and his head thick with waves of silver hair, the 91-year-old World War II legend said there is no greater honor than recognition from peers.

“When the heart is full, the tongue is heavy,” Megellas said first in Spanish, then translated for the crowd gathered at the ceremony dedicating the Veterans Memorial Building, 500 Fond du Lac Ave., to the local war hero.

Judy Kollmansberger of Eden sat among the families of veterans and the veterans themselves, graying men wearing smartly creased caps. They nodded in unison as Megellas spoke of the indescribable bond between those who braved battles side by side and lived to tell about it.

“I have a son, a Marine who just got back from Iraq,” Kollmansberger said. “It meant a lot when I met Jim this morning and he gave me a big hug.”

Stellar reputation

Born in Fond du Lac, Megellas gained a stellar reputation for his actions in World War II as the most decorated officer in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division. Among his most notable battles were in the Italian mountains near Venafro, the beach landing at Anzio, the jump into Holland (Operation Market Garden), the famous crossing of the Waal River in Nijmegen/Holland under heavy German machine gun fire and the Battle of the Bulge.

His war memoir “All the Way to Berlin,” is said to be one of the best accounts of what war at the level of an infantryman was like — a firsthand account of an American soldier risking his life for freedom.

Megellas’ hand shook as he held a perfect salute for the color guard carrying flags, but he stood poised with grace as he spoke about his life growing up in Fond du Lac during an era of patriotic pride.

He recalled numerous parades held in the city to honor veterans and the mobs of citizens who attended, a sea of flags wildly waving. He told of the soldiers who returned to Fond du Lac after the war, some without the buddies they enlisted with. As was tradition, most all of them joined the American Legion.

“Very high on their lists was continuing to serve their country and their community, and keeping that bond alive between them,” Megellas said.

By way of introduction. U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, noted that Megellas was being honored, not for his 25 medals, but “for what the medals represent: achieving victory and maintaining freedom.”

Legislation introduced

In January of 2007, Petri introduced a bill(H.R. 795) in the U.S. House of Representatives requesting that Megellas be awarded the Medal of Honor for his acts of valor during the Jan. 28, 1945 Battle of the Bulge.

The bill is presently in the Committee on Armed Services awaiting future action.

Recently a new bill(S.3232) has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas.

City Manager Tom Herre, himself a military veteran, said Megellas’ name on the building will serve as a daily source of inspiration.

“As we pass by, it will bring to mind the image of Americans at their best,” Herre said.

Other speakers included veteran of three wars: Marcus Oksa, Roger Immel, County Executive Allen Buechel and state Rep. John Townsend, R-Fond du Lac.

Megellas, who resides in Colleyville, Texas, was accompanied by his wife, Carole, and said he is often asked to share his thoughts about the ongoing war in Iraq.

“People ask me what if the cause isn’t justified or it isn’t a right war. Well, soldiers don’t question. They do what they are told and they do their job so that you have the freedom to question. If you don’t agree with a policy, you have the right to express yourself. Personally, I say it’s my country, and history will prove whether we were right or wrong.”

At 91, he’s still serving his country

LITTLE ROCK — War, says this man who has fought one, is the most brutal of human endeavors.

He speaks from the comfort of a stuffed wingback, a man of history resting for a moment among the columns and elegant arches of the Capital Hotel.

“War is necessary,” says Jim Megellas, whose mission with the 82nd Airborne Division was to kill Germans, “but not to be glorified. When you glorify it, you dishonor the sacrifice of those who died.”

Mr. Megellas’ story is in the details – the individuals and the day-to-day that the big picture historians of World War II omit, by necessity, from their volumes.

“There is a human element to war the historians do not write about, how young men will react,” says Mr. Megellas – Maggie to his fellow soldiers. “War is fought at the level of the platoon, often by teenagers.”

Mr. Megellas and his wife, Carole, who live in Texas, visited Little Rock recently to watch two of their preteen grandchildren compete in a martial arts tournament. The stop was a short one. At 91, his calendar is full, serving his country still, though now he uses a microphone and a pen.

Mr. Megellas is a native of Fond du Lac, Wis., where on Saturday the city will rename its Veterans Memorial Building for him.

Mr. Megellas was in college when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Six months later, he wrote a letter to his brother George, who was stationed at Camp Robinson, announcing he had earned his parachute wings:

“I was fortunate not to get hurt bad enough on any of my jumps to have to go on sick call, but I sure took a beating.

… The last four jumps I … hit on my butt and head. I hada headache for days … and my butt is still sore so that standing is a pleasure.”

Mr. Megellas, a lieutenant and platoon leader, was in Germany for the duration.

He fought in many of the big battles, including the Battle of the Bulge, during which he disabled a German tank with two hand grenades. He fought in the crossing of the Waal River, one of the battles in the film A Bridge Too Far. He was among those who liberated the concentration camp at Wobbelin.

He earned a chest full of medals, and a congressman from Wisconsin has introduced legislation to award him a Medal of Honor. But during his visit to Little Rock, he wore a light jacket and nothing about him gave away what he has seen or what he has earned.

“My claim to fame is Trace and MacKenzie,” he says,referring to his grandchildren.

Random House has published his memoir of the war, All the Way to Berlin. He drew from letters that he and others wrote, and he talked to men with whom he had fought.

He wrote all 190,000 words of his book with ball-points on yellow legal pads. Carole transcribed it reading into a voice-recognition program on a computer. (Editors cut his book to 140,000 words and didn’t go for his preferred title, which was Through the Sights of My Gun.)

“Every generation produces great men and women,” he says. “The Vietnam vets are the greatest of that generation.”

He has seen such greatness on trips to Afghanistan, most recently when he was with the82nd Airborne for Christmas 2007. He was 90 then.

“I found the same determination, the same dedication, as we had,” he says. “They are the best of this generation.”

Interview with James ‘Maggie’ Megellas

Last Thursday Maggie was interviewed on KFIZ about his World War II experiences, his visit to the troops overseas, building dedication and the Congressional Medal of Honor bill in House of Representatives(H.R. 795) and Senate(S.3232)
Interview with James ‘Maggie’ Megellas on KFIZ

Jim Megellas returns

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.”

Senator Cornyn Calls for Medal of Honor for James Megellas

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday Senator John Cornyn,TX introduced S.3232, legislation to award the Congressional Medal of Honor to former Fond du Lac resident James Megellas.

On January 28, 1945, then Lt. Megellas led his platoon of the 82nd Airborne Division on a surprise and devastating attack on a much larger advancing German force, killing and capturing a large number of the enemy and causing others to flee. In an act of fearless courage, Megellas single-handedly destroyed an attacking German Mark V tank with two hand-held grenades. He then led the charge of his men and seized Herresbach, Belgium.

After serving four years as a rifle platoon leader during World War II, including many combat jumps into Italy and Holland, Megellas left the active Army and served for 16 years in the Army Reserve. He retired after 20 years of service as a lieutenant colonel.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Star Medals, two Bronze Star Medals, two Purple Hearts, and he is credited with being the 82nd Airborne Division’s most decorated officer. During World War II, General James Gavin selected one 82nd officer – Lt. James Megellas – to receive the Military Order of Willhelm Orange Lanyard from the Dutch Minister of War on behalf of his division.

 

 

WWII Veteran to be Guest of Army NASCAR Team

91-Year-Old WWll Veteran to be Guest of U.S. Army Team at Chicagoland Speedway

JOLIET, Ill. — James Megellas, a 91-year-old World War II decorated veteran, will be a guest of Mark Martin and the U.S. Army NASCAR team at this weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway.

Megellas, a native of Fond du Lac, Wis. and ardent NASCAR fan, is the most decorated officer in the history of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.

A retired lieutenant colonel, Megellas was awarded more than 20 medals, including The Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts and Master Parachutist.

He also authored a book — All the way to Berlin: A Paratrooper at War in Europe.

Megellas made his second trip to Afghanistan in December 2007 to meet with soldiers. He shared his battlefield experiences from World War II, participated in combat patrols, including a ride-along in a humvee. He also spoke to staff members from the Combined Joint Task Force, addressing leadership in combat while serving overseas

D-Day June 6,1944

June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot- hold in Normandy. The D-Day cost was high -more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded — but more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler.

Memorial Day 2008 – Thank You America

 Dedicated to all American men and women that have been fighting and are fighting for our freedom

Thank You America  

504th PIR Paratrooper awarded Silver Star for actions under enemy fire

An 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper was awarded the Silver Star May 1 for gallantry in action while leading his platoon through an enemy stronghold in the Al Fadhil neighborhood of Baghdad.
  Sgt. 1st Class Michael Onstine, platoon sergeant for 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, distin­guished himself with valor Sept. 30, 2007, during Operation Rustum when his platoon twice came under overwhelming fire and grenade attacks attempting to capture or disrupt high value al-Qaida targets.
  While conducting a raid on the Kha Tun Mosque and an adjacent house, the enemy initiated a firefight with small-arms fire, according to Onstine. He said the platoon returned fire when shrapnel from an enemy grenade ripped through the back of both of his legs and shoulder. Onstine refused medical treatment, elect­ing to remain with his platoon until the enemy broke contact and other wounded paratroopers had been evacuated.
  “It was a long evening because it was the first evening and I got hit by grenade shrapnel,” said Onstine. “I was just thinking who’s in contact and what are we doing to take care of it? Focusing on the mission and how best to attack the enemy.”
  The evening wasn’t over as Onstine’s platoon had a follow­on mission when they were again ambushed receiving heavy small- arms fire and grenade attacks from three separate positions as they approached their target’s house. Three paratroopers, an Iraqi interpreter and a human intelli­gence source were immediately wounded.
  “I’m reacting by calling sup­porting teams by fire and calling for medics,” Onstine said.
  Onstine and the platoon medic rushed to the aid of a wounded paratrooper as enemy rounds were impacting around them. Onstine remained completely exposed in an alley providing cover fire so the wounded could be moved and ordering massing fire on enemy positions.
  “I had to expose myself to get visibility of the situation and devise a plan to leave the area while the rounds were hitting the wall inches away from me,” Onstine explained.
  When it became clear support would not reach the paratroop­ers still pinned down, Onstine volunteered to stay behind cov­ering his platoon’s withdrawal engaging nearly 20 insurgents with his M4 and grenades.
  “ He’s always been an out­standing guy, always there for his Soldiers,” complimented Spc. Wesley Ingraham, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 504th PIR.
  Onstine said he believed it was a successful mission because it led to the eventual capture of enemy combatants by fighting, killing and pushing the enemy out of their comfort zone. He also praised his platoon saying the men were chosen for the main effort of this operation because of how they performed under fire during previous missions.
“It’s a great platoon and this ceremony also recognizes their efforts,” Onstine said. “I would gladly give the medal back if I could get Sergeant Christopher Casselman and Sergeant Shawn Smith ( who were injured in the ambush) healthy and back in the platoon.”
  Onstine, like many other dec­orated veterans said he didn’t know whether his actions deserved receiving the Silver Star because he felt he was just doing his job, however, others believe Onstine is well-deserv­ing.
  “My Soldiers were with him in contact and they say he did an outstanding job,” said Capt. Eric Schnabel, commander of HHC, 1st Bn., 504th PIR. “He’s a true combat veteran and leader from the front.”

82nd AB most decorated inducted to The Order of Saint Maurice

LTC James ‘Maggie’ Megellas, the most decorated officer of the 82^nd Airborne Division, received the prestigious medallion of the Primicerius (Highest Level), awarded by the National Infantry Association and the Chief of Infantry of the United States Army for outstanding contributions to the infantry.’

“This man is an example for all infantry men and women serving in the US Army,” said MG(ret) Jerry White, President of the National Infantry Association, as he presented Megellas his award.

The infantry medallion is named after the leader of the Roman Theban Legion, Saint Maurice, in the 3rd century. It is awarded to officers, noncommissioned officers, and special nominees who have made a significant contribution to the infantry.

Maggie (as his fellow troopers called him) was awarded more than 20 medals including The Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts, Presidential Citation w/cluster, Belgium Fouragere, 6 Campaign Stars, and Master Parachutist for his WWII service.

He was selected by General James Gavin, as the most outstanding officer of the 82nd Airborne Division to receive the Netherlands, “Military Order of Willhelm Orange Lanyard” from the Dutch Minister of War in Berlin in 1945, the first American decorated by the Government of Holland. Among his most notable battles were in the Italian mountains near Venafro, the beach landing at Anzio, the jump into Holland (Operation Market Garden), the famous crossing of the Waal River under heavy German machine gun fire in broad daylight (subject of the “A Bridge too Far” movie) and the Battle of the Bulge.

Maggie commanded H. Company 504 PIR in the occupation of Berlin and led his Company, the only Company he served with during the entire war, down 5th Ave. in New York in the Victory Parade in January 1946. For his leadership and heroic action in capturing the town of Herresbach, Belgium, Jim was recommended to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

On January 31, 2007 Congressman Thomas Petri of Wisconsin introduced a bill (H.R 795) in the United States House of Representatives to authorize and request the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Megellas of Colleyville, Texas for acts of valor on January 28, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. The bill is presently in the Committee on Armed Services awaiting future action.

It’s that ‘foxhole mentality’

Retired Lt. Col. James Megellas calls it “foxhole mentality,” that which drives Soldiers “to go where the fight is.” This weekend, Megellas said, the fight is at Fort Benning, where 28 two-man teams will battle for the title of Best Ranger.

Megellas flew in from his home in Texas earlier this week to meet with the competitors, and this weekend, he’ll follow their progress throughout the three-day, 60-hour competition. It’s the first time the 91-year-old has visited the post since 1943, when he attended Airborne School here.

Back then, it was called Parachute School, Megellas said, and it was where a young Soldier with that foxhole mentality needed to be if he hoped to see action in Europe.

“I volunteered because I wanted to be where the decisive action was taking place. The decisive action doesn’t take place behind a desk. I wanted be with the guys who did the fighting,” he said. “I was told the quickest way to get there was to go to Fort Benning to the Parachute School.”

Megellas’ training served him well. During the three years he spent with 82nd Airborne Division, he fought on the beach at Anzio, jumped into Holland, participated in the Waal River crossing made famous in A Bridge Too Far, and saw more than 60 days of combat in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded more than 10 medals and was recommended for a Medal of Honor.

Megellas commanded the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment’s H Company during the occupation of Berlin and later, in 1945, he was the first American to receive the Military Order of Willhelm Orange Lanyard from the Dutch Minister of Berlin.

Today, he is credited as the most decorated officer in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division. But, he said, he’s got nothing on the Soldiers he’s met during his recent travels to Afghanistan.

“They say we set the standard, my generation — the Greatest Generation. I say each generation raises the bar just a little bit higher,” he said. “We were the best of our generation. They are the best of their generation. We’re cut from the same cloth. We share the same values. We share the same desire to go where the fight is — that same foxhole mentality.”

Megellas chronicled his combat experience in All the way to Berlin. He signed copies of the book Tuesday at a private reception in Columbus for the Best Ranger competitors.

As he does when he gets a chance to visit with troops in combat, Megellas spoke to the Rangers about leadership.

“If I have one message for Soldiers today, it’s all about leadership — leadership at the squad and platoon level,” he said. “That’s the highest level of leadership in mortal combat. It’s not the commander. It’s not the colonel. At that point, they’re being led by sergeants. There’s a lot that’s changed in the last sixty years, but that hasn’t changed.”

Navy SEAL Mickey Monsoor to receive Medal of Honor for Iraq heroism

A California-based SEAL who threw his body on a grenade to save his comrades in Iraq will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor, a Defense Department official has confirmed.Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor, of Garden Grove, Calif., was holed up on the roof of a Ramadi house with three other SEALs on Sept. 29, 2006, when an insurgent grenade landed nearby.

Monsoor, a 25-year old with SEAL Team 3, grabbed the grenade and clutched it to his chest. The blast killed him, but his actions, officials said at the time, saved the men on the rooftop.

Monsoor will be the second member of the Navy to receive the Medal of Honor since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, and the first sailor to receive it for combat in Iraq.

Michael Fumento, who’s written about Monsoor and combat operations in Ramadi, reported on his Internet blog over the weekend that Monsoor’s family would receive the posthumous award on the fallen SEAL’s behalf during a White House ceremony April 8.

A Defense Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the award had been approved.

“We understand the decision has been made to give that award,” the official said Monday. However, it’s not clear when the medal would be presented by President Bush, as is tradition, and the White House hasn’t yet made any announcement.

“[The date is] very likely to change,” the Pentagon official said.

A spokeswoman at the Navy Office of Information referred questions to the White House. A call to the White House press office was not immediately returned.

Monsoor, a platoon machine gunner, had received the Silver Star, the third-highest award for combat valor, for his actions pulling a wounded SEAL to safety during a May 9, 2006, firefight in Ramadi.

Interview part II with LTC James Megellas

We return to the men of the 82nd Airborne Division in late September 1944, after the capture of the bridge at Nijmegen, Holland – a battle whose story one CBS war correspondent declared “should be told to the blowing of bugles and the beating of drums for the men whose bravery made [it] possible.” But in its wake would come even greater trials: the Battle of the Bulge, and finally, the march on Berlin.

Interviews
Real Media (Part One March 16, 2007) Real Media (Part Two March 06, 2008)

Christmas with the Troops in Afghanistan…

On December 13, 2007 I departed, by myself, from Dallas Texas, which would start the beginning of my International “Books for the Troops Tour”. On December 12^th, the day before I left I had a book signing at DFW Airport where I autographed and personalized 150 books for our troops deploying to Iraq. Random House, my publisher, has donated 3,504 of my books (3rd Battalion, 504 Parachute Infantry Regiment, my old outfit). Which I will be signing and personalizing and giving to our soldiers at various bases in various counties.

My plane was met in Amsterdam, Holland by my friend Alex, President of the Market Garden Commemorative Committee, who accompanied me in 2006 to Afghanistan and would accompany me once again on this trip. Our first stop was in Schinnen Garrison, which turned out to be an exciting event, and well received by the troops. On December 19th we left for Afghanistan on a Royal Dutch Air Force DC 10 landing in Kandahar. Once in country I meet with and signed books for our young soldiers at five different locations: Kandahar, Bagram, Kabul, FOB (forward operation base) Salerno and Jalalabad. The response everywhere was heartwarming and at times overwhelming. The distance and the time involved in getting there for Christmas were well worth the effort.

War observes no one’s holidays for any of the combatants regardless of notations on the calendar. Christmas like any other observed holiday was like any other for our troops in Afghanistan with respect to their mission of stopping the advance of Muslim extremists.

Yet Christmas does have special meaning for our troops in a distant land in a foreign environment where Christmas is not observed. It is a time of reflection remembering Christmases past, our families and loved ones. Above all, a longing to be with them but duty to country calls them elsewhere.

I recall my three Christmases overseas in WW II, the mountains of Italy 1943; Belgium and the Battle of the Bulge 1944 and Germany 1945.

“Christmas Eve night was calm, cold and serene. The battlefield had been relatively quiet that day—no patrols, no enemy contact—but the normal amount of artillery fire had been coming in and going out passing over our heads. Back in the valley the support troops were attending church services. In between the crackling of shells over our heads, we could hear the Christmas carolers. The strains of “Silent Night” were echoing through the valley and drifting to the mountaintops. As I strained to hear the voices, between artillery shells, I clearly recognized the carols “Silent Night” and “Oh Come, All Ye Faithful”. They left me with an empty and eerie feeling. Christmas services were behind us proclaiming the birth of the Savior, and Germans were in front of us; like us, they had one purpose—kill their fellow man, the enemy in front of them”—Mt Sammucro, Italy, 1943 “All The Way to Berlin”.

Afghanistan 2007 was my fourth Christmas with the 82d Airborne Division in a combat zone, albeit 62 years later. I distinctly remember those Christmases as will our troops in Afghanistan will long remember this and other Christmases in the service of our country in foreign lands.

Christmas, however, did not go unobserved by our troops. The dining facilities and offices were well decorated in the same way Christmases are observed everywhere by Christians.

Having Christmas dinner with the troops in the field was something special. It was a fulfilling experience for me and from the reaction from our troops, for them as well. Spending Christmas with someone they could identify with from WW II was appreciated.

The highlights of my visit included flying with General David Rodriguez, 82d Airborne Division Commander and Command Sergeant Major Thomas Capel on Christmas Day to visit the troops at FOB Salerno and Jalalabad and the dinner with General Dan McNeil, Multinational Task Force Commander and General Officers from Allied Countries in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)

The Allied forces have made visible, measurable progress since my first visit to Afghanistan 24 months ago. The Afghanistan forces have greatly improved and are increasingly involved in actions against the insurgents. However, the Taliban remains a force to be reckoned with and in some areas, particularly South of Kandahar, have actually gained strength.

A number of our troops serving in Afghanistan are in their third or fourth tours with the possibility of more in the future. Unlike WW II where we served for the “duration”, our troops in the war against terror are in “for the duration, one tour at a time.

Although this was my second trip to Afghanistan like the previous one almost two years ago I found the same determination, motivation and dedication to getting the job done. At every occasion I expressed the gratitude of the American people and how proud we are of our young men and women answering the call to preserve the values we hold dear. I noted, they are the “best of their generation”.

I carried out a busy schedule autographing copies of my book, “All The Way to Berlin” donated by Random House, meeting flight schedules and making over 20 speeches. On December 30^th I started my return trip back to Dallas. I flew with five different planes on five different airlines, three military a Canadian C-130, a British C-130 and a Royal Dutch DC 10. The two commercial airlines were the British Airways to London and American Airlines to Dallas. The total time for the trip including cancellations, layovers and delays took three days, but it did not detract from the success of the trip and I was happy for the opportunity to go.

Megellas travels to war zone to sign copies of his book

Retired Lt. Col. James Megellas spent Christmas in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division.

It was the fourth Christmas he has spent in a war zone — but just the first since World War II.

This time, instead of fighting, Megellas spent two weeks in Afghanistan signing free copies of his World War II memoir “All the Way to Berlin.”

He traveled to Kandahar, Bagram and Kabul. He spent Christmas with troops in Forward Operating Base Salerno near Khost and at a base outside of Jalalabad.

Megellas, one of the most decorated soldiers in 82nd history, was a platoon leader in H Company, 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment during World War II. He was awarded more than 10 medals including the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.

Megellas said he gave many speeches, including a Christmas speech where he urged the soldiers to remember that while they are away from home, they are with their second family.

“A bond is created between troops that is stronger than brotherhood,” Megellas said.

This was his second trip to Afghanistan. In February, Megellas plans to take thousands of copies of his book to the paratroopers in Iraq.

‘Mijn boek heeft me veel geholpen’

For my Dutch Friends a Dutch article about my trip to Afghanistan:

EINDHOVEN – Met in zijn reistas een paar duizend boeken vertrekt de Amerikaan James Megellas vandaag vanaf Eindhoven Airport naar Afghanistan, om Nederlandse en Amerikaanse troepen een hart onder de riem te gaan steken.

James Megellas. foto Kees Martens

Dat lijkt een hele onderneming voor een man die in maart volgend jaar 91 hoopt te worden, maar Megellas heeft er zin in. “Onze én jullie jongens hebben die steun nodig. Da’s beter dan thuis stilzitten.”Het boek dat de vroegere luitenant-kolonel Megellas gaat uitdelen, heeft hij zelf geschreven (’All the Way to Berlin’) en handelt over zijn eigen ervaringen in WO II. Megellas heeft destijds als pelotonscommandant van de 82e Airbornedivisie zó veel actie gezien (de landing bij Anzio, de strijd om Monte Cassino, het Ardennenoffensief, Market Garden) dat het een wonder is dat hij dat allemaal overleefd heeft.”Vooral Market Garden was verschrikkelijk. In kleine canvas bootjes in de eerste aanvalsgolf de Waal over bij Nijmegen, onder zwaar Duits vuur. 57 dagen onafgebroken in actie geweest, en vreselijke dingen zien gebeuren.”

Zodanig zelfs dat hij, na terugkeer in Amerika, zestig jaar lang niet meer terug durfde te gaan naar de landen waar hij gevochten had. Maar tien jaar geleden besloot hij ineens om het allemaal op schrift te stellen. “En dat heeft me fantastisch geholpen. Hoe het kan weet ik niet, maar na dat boek kon ik ineens weer wél terug. Naar Duitsland, waar ik als een held werd ontvangen: heel vreemd én ontroerend, en Italië, België, Nederland. Eerst durfde ik zestig jaar niet; nu ben ik in de laatste drie jaar al vijf keer hier geweest. Onder andere hier in Eindhoven, dat vind ik een prettige stad.”

Megellas is zeer welkom in Afghanistan, waar de Amerikanen én de Nederlanders de zeer zwaar gedecoreerde oud-militair naar eigen zeggen goed kennen. “Veel van die jongens hebben het boek gelezen. Natuurlijk vind ik het niet prettig dat er, ruim zestig jaar na de oorlog, nóg steeds zoveel Amerikaanse jongens sterven op slagvelden ver van huis.”

“Aan de andere kant: wíj zijn de natie die de terroristen moeten hebben. Er zijn in Europa ook afschuwelijke aanslagen geweest, maar zoiets als nine eleven is hier niet voorgekomen. Daarom moeten wij als Amerikanen het voortouw nemen. Wij vochten destijds voor het herstel van de democratie; nu doen die jongens in Afghanistan en Irak hetzelfde. Waarom the Lord dat allemaal zo beschikt heeft weet ik niet, ik ken de antwoorden op zulke vragen niet. Maar het moet wél gebeuren. De democratie mag nooit bedreigd worden.”