The Battle Behind Vietnam

 

The Battle Behind Vietnam

-and a World War II Hero’s Return to Freedom’s Defense

An interview with CORDS II Corps Tactical Zone Director James Megellas,

35 years after his tour in Vietnam. By Kenneth David Hall

To read the article click link: The Battle Behind Vietnam

Fond du Lac native could get highest military honor

There’s not much James “Maggie” Megellas hasn’t accomplished as a soldier.
The Fond du Lac native, however, may be in store for the highest award possible for servicemen and women.
A bill introduced in Congress earlier this year by Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, would award Megellas the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in World War II.
Megellas, the most decorated soldier in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division, said the Medal of Honor would be like icing on the cake for his distinguished military career.
“It is pretty exciting considering the action took place 62 years ago,” Megellas said in a phone interview. Petri’s bill to honor Megallas is currently in the Armed Services Committee.
Petri in a prepared statement said that Lt. Megellas on Jan. 28, 1945, led his platoon of the 82nd Airborne Division on a devastating surprise attack on a much larger advancing German force, killing and capturing a large number of the enemy and causing others to flee.
Petri went onto say that in an act of fearless courage, Megellas single-handedly destroyed an attacking German Mark V tank with two hand-held grenades and then led the charge of his men and seized Herresbach, Belgium.
Tom Laney, of the Badger Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division, said Megellas is absolutely deserving of the Medal of Honor. He said Megellas wasn’t a typical officer.
“I thought one of the greatest things about Maggie is he took care of the guys in his platoon,” Laney said. “He would do anything for those guys. He went above and beyond and really cared about them.”
Megellas was a paratrooper, who fought in the European Theater against Germany. Laney said Megellas, who now lives near Dallas, was part of Operation Market Garden—the greatest airborne drop in the history of warfare.
Megellas has received a number of awards, including the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Star medals, two Bronze Star medals, two Purple Hearts for being wounded and two presidential citations.

Veterans Day 2007(video)

WWII Hero Visits Army Team at Texas NASCAR Race

Lt. Colonel James Megellas (ret), the most decorated officer in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division, and his wife Carole, were guests of Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Wiley X Eyewear for Sunday’s NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. One of the first stops for the Colleyville, Texas resident and WWII veteran was to the No. 01 U.S. Army NASCAR team and driver Mark Martin.        

Mr. Megellas, who is 90 years-old, spoke to team members and addressed a group of Future Soldiers. Following his speech he was given a rousing applause from everyone in attendance.Megellas or “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 Wilhelm Orange Lanyard” from the Dutch Minister of War.Megellas’ book, All the Way to Berlin, was released in 2003 and provides a vivid and most interesting chronicle of his heroic experiences.This decorated war hero visited Afghanistan in 2006. With troops of the 504th PIR, he went on patrols, attended briefings and spoke to the men about leadership under fire. On his way back from Afghanistan, Maggie stopped in Holland and spoke at the inauguration of the 2nd edition of his book All the Way to Berlin, in the Dutch language.In mid-1943, Megellas joined the 82d Airborne Division. His first taste of combat was in the rugged mountains outside Naples where he was wounded.In October 1943, when most of the 82d departed Italy to prepare for the D-Day invasion of France, Lt. Gen. Mark Clark, the Fifth Army commander, requested that the division’s 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Megellas’ outfit, stayed behind for a daring new operation that would outflank the Nazis’ stubborn defensive lines and open the road to Rome. On Jan. 22, 1944, Megellas and the rest of the 504th landed across the beach at Anzio.Following initial success, Fifth Army’s amphibious assault, Operation Shingle, bogged down in the face of heavy German counterattacks that threatened to drive the Allies into the Tyrrhenian Sea. Anzio turned into a fiasco, one of the bloodiest Allied operations of the war. Not until April were the remnants of the regiment withdrawn and shipped to England to recover, reorganize, refit, and train for their next mission.Among Megellas’ other notable battles were 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 movie, A Bridge Too Far) and the Battle of the Bulge. 

Staff Sergeant Bud Ruckman rest in peace

Today the Airborne community mourns the passing of one of its Troopers, “Bud” Ruckman, a gallant soldier who served with honor and distinction as a Staff Sergeant during the Korean War. He wore his uniform with pride and dignity and set the standard for the young soldiers who followed him.

 

Bud devoted a lifetime in support of fellow veterans as a member of The American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Disabled American Veterans and the Badger State Chapter. He served in the Honor Guard and at military funerals for fellow veterans as a member of the firing squad.

Bud was a true American Patriot who devoted his life for causes greater than himself. As a fellow Airborne soldier Bud and I developed a bond of friendship and mutual respect. For all of us who grieve his passing we can take solace in knowing he helped make the world a better place.

Lt.Col(ret.)James ‘Maggie’ Megellas

82d Airborne Division