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James Megellas
http://www.myspace.com/jamesmegellas
James is the most decorated officer in the history of the 82nd 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 Wilhelm 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 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 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. You can find Maggie's website on www.jamesmegellas.org