LTC(Ret) James 'Maggie' Megellas visits troops in Afghanistan (September 2008)

Troops in Afghanistan often receive visits from musicians, professional athletes, and film stars.
Rarely does anyone get to meet a real hero...

LTC(Ret) James 'Maggie' Megellas visited the 101st Airborne Division in September 2008
Maggie (as his fellow troopers called him)is the most decorated officer in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division.
He was awarded more than 25 medals including The Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts, Presidential Citation w/cluster, Belgium Fouragere, 6 Campaign Stars, and Master Parachutist for his WWII service.

He was selected by General James Gavin, as the most outstanding officer of the 82nd Airborne Division to receive the Netherlands, Military Order of Willhelm Orange Lanyard from the Dutch Minister of War in Berlin in 1945, the first American decorated by the Government of Holland. Among his most notable battles were in the Italian mountains near Venafro, 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.

Maggie commanded H. Company 504 PIR in the occupation of Berlin and led his Company, the only Company he served with during the entire war, down 5th Ave. in New York in the Victory Parade in January 1946. 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 is presently in the Committee on Armed Services awaiting future action.

On July 08, 2008 Senator John Cornyn of Texas introduced a bill (S. 3232) in the United States Senate 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 is presently in the Committee on Armed Services awaiting future action.

www.jamesmegellas.org

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[marineman234]

hell yeah! I read that book, he is an American Hero

[mightymax1983]

I remember hearing about this.  This is awesome! Hooah!

[1gunfighter1]

This guy is a bad ass!!