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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.
July 15, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Megellas is truely an American Hero! I wish there where more like him in the world today!
Congrats James!
Cheers
Ron Lester
-Actor-
July 20, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Maggie, you’ve done it again! For the sake of accuracy in awards and for the sake of the 504th, I hope that Congress and the President get this one right. You’re a true American hero.
Warm regards,
–Woody
Naval Aviator and AA Pilot
July 21, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Mr Megellas,
You’r a great man and it would be apropriate that you receive this MOH.
Ron
August 7, 2008 at 1:18 AM
This medal needs to be upgraded, it is a disgrace that it has not been done yet.
September 21, 2008 at 6:08 AM
I had the unexpected honor of meeting Col Megellas in the DFW airport one day where he was signing copies of his book at a mall bookstore. The whole airport was quiet, so we got to chat for about 20 minutes. I was tempted to miss my connection. Although I served in the USAF for 24 years, as a pilot during Vietnam and later as a test pilot, Jim and the leaders of his era were in a whole different league than anything the military tolerated in my era (or since).
I’ve never heard of a case, where the awarded MOH was undeserved, but there are many cases where an individual’s actions far exceeds the criteria for award, but for many reasons, is never recorded or submitted for consideration.
But once facts become known and verified, it’s been my experience (I’ve known directly of two Vietnam-era MOH submission processes) that the Chain of Command is only too eager to act on the recommendation. But there are exceptions to that rule of eagerness.
There are two people that I know of whose attested actions in combat were of a nature that came as close to “automatic” approval of the MOH as there can be.
One of those individuals is “Hack” Hackworth; the other is Jim Megellas. Hackworth’s repeated rejection by the Army, and the repeated, dogged refusal to not accept their decision by those whom Hackworth saved that day and continue to re-nominate him, is as understandable as it is detestable: Hackworth came to be a constant irritant to the Army, which Hackworth criticized unrelentingly. Too many people in the Army were angry with Hackworth; his unequalled combat record counted for nothing. “The System” always imposes its peculiar discipline on those who dare to make it look foolish or inept or worse.
But what was/is the political nonsense that derailed Jim’s recommendation? I wonder if it was petty jealousy by someone who was “getting even?” People who are capable of the kinds of acts of bravery that Jim performed a very often people with an edge to their personality and they tend not to suffer fools gladly.
I hope he’s outlived his critics. I hope that Sen. Cornin’s bill will quickly correct an inexplainable injustice and that a very much alive Jim Megellas can receive and wear that recognition on behalf of himself and so many also-deserving men whose names are known only to God. I can think of nobody better to meet a young boy or girl and answer that inevitable question “Heh, Mister, what’s that thing around your neck for?”
Having people alive to answer that question, and to thereby offer encouragement and motivation to the next generation of warriors, is after all, one of the purposes of all military decorations, especially this, the highest and most praiseworthy one of all.