LOCAL WAR HERO RECOUNTS WWII EXPERIENCES AND VISIT TO AFGHANISTAN

Fond du Lac native retired Lt. Col. James “Maggie” Megellas served in World War II and was the most decorated officer of the 82nd Airborne Division. The public is invited to a free program at the Fond du Lac Public Library on Thursday, August 17 at 6:30 pm in the McLane Meeting Room to learn more about his WWII experiences and his recent visit to Afghanistan. Jim’s book All the Way to Berlin, released in 2003, provides a vivid account of his heroic experiences. A book signing will follow the program.

Jim was awarded more than 10 medals including The Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts for his WWII service. Among his most notable battles were in the Italian mountains near Naples, 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. For his heroic action in capturing the town of Herresbach, Belgium, Jim was recommended to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

On June 6, 2006, Congressman Thomas Petri introduced a bill in the United States House of Representatives to request the President to award the Medal of Honor to Jim for acts of valor on January 28, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. The bill was referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

He recently returned from a visit with troops in Afghanistan in his old outfit, the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. On his way back he stopped in Holland and spoke at the inauguration of the 2nd edition of his book All the Way to Berlin in the Dutch language.

For more information call 929-7080, ext 141. Check out the library’s website for more special events.

DALLAS COUNCIL OF THE NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES PRESENTS:

PREVIEW OF THE 28 JULY PROGRAM

 

LTC James Megellas, USA (Ret) is the most decorated officer in the history of the 82^nd Airborne Division. Maggie (as his fellow troopers called him) was awarded more than 10 medals including The Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts for his WWII service. He was selected by General “Jumpin Jim” Gavin to receive the “Military Order of Willhelm Orange Lanyard” from the Dutch Minister of War. Among his most notable battles were in the Italian mountains near Naples, 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. For his leadership and heroic action in capturing the town of Herresbach, Belgium, Jim was recommended to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

 

On June 6, 2006 Congressman Thomas Petri of Wisconsin introduced a bill (H.R. 5537) 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 was referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

 

His book, “All the Way to Berlin”, released in 2003, provides a vivid and most interesting chronicle of his heroic experiences. This decorated war hero, at 89 years young, recently returned from a visit with troops in Afghanistan in his old outfit, the 504^th Parachute Infantry Regiment. On his way back from Afghanistan Jim stopped in Holland and spoke at the inauguration of the 2^nd edition of his book “All the Way to Berlin” in the Dutch language.

LTC Megellas, who says that his MOS was “Killing Germans”, will tell us of his experiences and personally autograph copies of his book.

 

 

Location:

 

DALLAS COUNCIL OF THE NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES

Park City Club

5956 Sherry Lane , suite 1700

Dallas, TX

HAROLD SULLIVAN

The Veterans of the 504^th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82d Airborne Division join me in extending our deepest sympathy to the family of Harold Sullivan, as we morn the passing of a comrade in arms. Harold Sullivan entered the service as a teenager imbued with a spirit of patriotism and love for his country. He volunteered for the paratroopers and certain combat wanting to be on the cutting edge of the battlefield. Sully was in my platoon from the Battle of the Bulge all the way to Berlin. He was a courageous soldier highly respected by all his comrades. He was fearless in battle and we could always count on him when the going was tough. He developed a strong bond with his comrades and he would not hesitate to risk his life to save the life of a buddy.

We have maintained the bond we forged in combat over the years. Sully was a dedicated family man who with the love of his life, Millie reared nine wonderful children. He was as understanding and compassionate as he was fearless and courageous in war.

Today we note the passing of a great American who devoted his life to the service of his country and for causes greater then himself. For all of us who grieve his passing, we find solace knowing he helped to make the world a better place and our lives have been enriched having called him our friend.

JAMES MEGELLAS

1^st. Lt. H Company, 504 PIR

 

War book unites veteran, 89 and Larchmont boy, 8

LARCHMONT — When he was 6, Ramon Pineda picked an unusual bedtime story: a memoir of World War II written by the most decorated officer in the 82nd Airborne Division.

His fascination with the book and with its author, James “Maggie” Megellas, has led to an even more unusual friendship between the Larchmont boy and the 89-year-old veteran, a friendship that brought Megellas to speak with Ramon’s Cub Scout troop yesterday afternoon.

“I’d describe it as amazing,” said Ramon, about his hero’s visit to Larchmont. “I’m proud to call him my friend.”

Megellas has similar feelings about his youngest and biggest fan: “I’d describe it as incredible.”

Their friendship started in 2004, when Ramon’s father, also named Ramon, brought home an autographed copy of “All the Way to Berlin” from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. He told his son that he could read the book when he got older, but young Ramon couldn’t wait.

Young Ramon was riveted by Megellas’ dangerous parachuting missions and stories of brotherhood among soldiers. So when Ramon had to write a book report on a historical figure, he passed over George Washington to interview the author by phone.

“He was so taken with history and World War II,” Megellas said. “He can recite so much about World War II.”

The two became pen pals, and Ramon became Megellas’ unexpected promoter. The boy wrote a letter to President Bush urging him to upgrade Megellas’ Silver Star to a Medal of Honor. Megellas has two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, as well as the Distinguished Service Cross.

Megellas sent a copy of the letter to a colleague of Bush’s, who hand-delivered it to the president at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. The Pinedas were told that Karl Rove was handling the matter.

“He’s like his PR (public relations) person,” said Ramon’s mother, Grace Pineda, with a laugh.

When Megellas went to Holland to promote his book and visit key battle sites, he invited Ramon and his family to join him. Ramon’s father recalled how Megellas took his son’s hand and showed him where his war buddies were buried.

“It was a very emotional moment,” the elder Ramon said.

The family traveled again to see Megellas in March, to help him celebrate his 89th birthday with his wife, Carole Megellas, in Chicago.

“He’s been nothing but an incredible friend,” Ramon’s father said.

Yesterday, at the at the Larchmont Cub Scouts’ annual Blue and Gold Dinner at Larchmont Avenue Church, Ramon got to show Megellas some of his “medals” — namely his Cub Scout swimming pin and his Tiger Badge.

Megellas talked to the boys and girls, including Ramon’s 6-year-old sister, Claudia, about history, war and unity. He told them to be tolerant of others’ differences, to avoid violence and to respect their parents, teachers and elders.

“You do that,” he said. “You’re honoring veterans.”

Members of Boy Scout Troop 4 also came to hear Megellas speak, and asked him about being in combat.

“It’s the most brutal form of human endeavor,” he said. “There’s no glory in war.”

For many of the boys, World War II seems as far in the past as the French and Indian War, Cub leader Robert Herbst said.

“It’s great to have a living example here,” he said. “They will carry something away from this.”

Megellas is planning to speak today to Ramon’s classmates at Sts. John and Paul Elementary School, as well as to fifth- and sixth-graders.

Grace Pineda is still amazed that the octogenarian from Texas and her son are friends. She said Megellas has become a surrogate grandfather to her son, who lost his paternal grandfather in 2003.

“It’s been an extraordinary journey,” Grace Pineda said. “How many kids meet their heroes, and how many form a relationship with them?”

WHERE HEROES DARE TO DREAM

After 60 Years, Veterans of the 82nd Airborne Cross the Waal River

By Ken Hall

It was a typical 82nd Airborne Operation, complete with a team of highly experienced men. The time is 3 p.m., September 20, 2004. The place is the edge of the Waal River, Nijmegen, Netherlands. However, there is a special distinction for this group; the average age is 85 years old.

About a half dozen surviving veterans of the 82nd’s 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment returned to one of the most epic battles of World War II, Operation Market Garden, and for some, it was the first time at the Waal River in 60 years.

“I have to admit things look different here than they did 60 years ago,” said then First Lt. James “Maggie” Megellas, the 504th’s company commander during that mission. “I remember a tall smoke stack next to a power plant, and it’s still here now. It’s good to see old friends again and that we could make this journey together one more time.”

Yet, while the September 1944 Operation Market Garden would later prove to be a short-term failure, the men of the 504th would nevertheless move forward across the treacherous, heavily defended Waal River, despite the loss of more than half of Megellas’s two companies to intense suppressive enemy fire.

The 60th anniversary of this historic crossing would prove to be no less dramatic.

“I was told we would begin the crossing at the same time as we did in 1944,” said Megellas. “On that day, we were ready to go early in the morning but we were delayed several times before we finally got on the river at 3 p.m.”

But for this occasion, Megellas arrived to the boat landing launch point a half hour before 3. For the first time in 60 years, Megellas looked out across Nijmegen’s Waal River, but it wasn’t enemy fire from the other side of the river he saw. Instead, he saw the three vintage WWII landing craft boats nicknamed “Ducks” arranged for the day’s historic journey of remembrance already driving across the river without him. Yet with the same 504th operational flare as that September day in 1944 and many other days before, during and after Market Garden, Megellas would once again rise to the occasion with the help of his team.

Two soldiers from US Army Europe’s WWII 60th Anniversary Commemorative Events Support Team were escorting Megellas and his wife to the Waal River shoreline for the crossing, and managed to radio the small Duck boats to come ashore to a river boat pier and pick Megellas up at the water’s edge.

Minnesota Army Reservist Maj. David Holter provides the finishing touch in aiding Lt. Col. (Retired) James “Maggie” Megellas to the dock’s edge of the Waal River to board a Duck boat.

Fr. Gerard Thuring offers a hand to help Lt. Col. (Retired) James “Maggie” Megellas aboard the Duck boat, while fellow 504th veteran Albert Clark (rear center) readies his camera for the moment.

With a great cheer from the veterans already embarked on the three Duck boats, the half dozen attending Veterans of the 504th once again advanced across the Waal.

“Half my guys were blown out of the water while we crossed here,” said Megellas as small white water breakers lifted over the bow of the Duck boat.

But in 1944, Megellas and the nearly 80 men of the 504th still alive during the river crossing would not retreat from their mission.

Instead, the remaining tattered, shredded canvas boats they were using at that time, quickly filling with water from the various bullet and shrapnel holes during the half mile passage inevitably reached the enemy’s side of the Waal River.

“I had half the guys in the boats using their helmets to bail out the water that was gushing in from the shrapnel and sniper hits we took,” said Megellas. “And between ducking our heads from mortars flying all around us, we managed to paddle those things across. It was amazing any of us made it at all.”

An original river boat used by the 504th during the Waal River crossing on 20 September, 1944. The craft was recently acquired by the National Liberation Museum in Groesbeek, near Nijmegen.“The Market Garden invasion was a failure then,” said Megellas. “But today, those of us who are here can look back and think it might not have been a total loss in the big picture.”

Lt. Col (Ret) James “Maggie” Megellas waves to old friends during the Waal River crossing.In Operation Market Garden’s first nine days, the number of Allied forces killed, wounded or missing amounted to more than 17,000. And for this WWII 60th anniversary journey of remembrance, Megellas nearly added himself to the fallen of the Waal River crossing.

After attending a memorial service in Grave, Netherlands, just three days before, Megellas became very ill. He was hospitalized that night, and remained at Catharina Hospital an hour south of Nijmegen in near-critical condition for the next three days.

“We have been thinking about making this trip from Texas for a long time,” said Carol, Megellas’ wife of more than 40 years. “He was not allowed to eat any real food while in the hospital, and I was very concerned that he would not have enough energy to get to the river when the time came.”

But at 11 am, on the 60th anniversary of the Waal River crossing, the most decorated soldier in the history of the 82nd Airborne was given a temporary “pass” from his hospital bed, and with the help of his wife and several friends, he made his way to the Waal River in true heroic fashion.

“There was nothing that was going to prevent my husband from joining the rest of the veteran’s on this very special day,” added Carol with great, resounding conviction.

“Of course we are here,” said Albert Clark, a retired California Civil Engineer who made his first Waal River crossing in 1944 while a sergeant in the 504th. “For Maggie to go AWOL from a hospital bed to do this sort of thing, well, this is the way were all were in the 82nd. After 60 years, and especially today, we are still this way.”

On this occasion, the Waal crossing culminated in a ceremony at the crossing site monument. A Color Guard from 82nd Airborne joined the veterans, and students from a local junior high school laid roses next to a wreath which was presented by the current 82nd Airborne command group. Honors for the fallen members of the 82nd here were read aloud by Father Gerard Thuring, Chairman, Groesbeek 82nd Airborne Friends.

On that cloudy September afternoon in 1944, Megellas and the remaining men of the 504th made their way up from the Waal River beachhead, and after four hours of intense close combat, secured the ridge on the far enemy side of the Nijmegen railroad and automobile bridges. This critical assault by the 504th would allow armor from the Irish Guards to cross the Waal River and relieve the remaining 2,000 British Airborne Troops at Arnhem. Actions by the 504th this day would garner them a Presidential Unit Citation.

But the men of the 504th would not slow their battle rhythm along the Waal River.

Ten days later in covert action behind enemy lines, Megellas picked up a wounded soldier and carried him over his shoulder while still firing his machine gun into enemy positions, killing four enemy soldiers, and taking several prisoners while he and the men of the 504th destroyed enemy blockhouse strongholds along his patrol route.

“It was tough work during those days,” said Megellas. “We had very little K-Rations, and even fewer showers along the way. But we were very good at the duty we had to do. We had to be because the enemy was very good, too.”

Megellas’s selfless act under heavy fire on September 30, 1944, would garner a Distinguished Service Cross from the U.S. Army, and he would later be nominated for the Medal of Honor for his actions after the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, during January 1945.

For the veterans of the 82nd Airborne who made this 2004 journey of remembrance – 60 years after their first crossing of the Waal River, it was complete with the usual fire and determination that has been tradition for 82nd Airborne soldiers for all time. And for one Medal of Honor nominee, James “Maggie” Megellas, another chapter to add in a storied life.