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.”