This Military Service Page was created/owned by
MAJ Mark E Cooper
to remember
Megellas, James (Maggie), LTC USA(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Fond du Lac
Last Address Colleyville, TX
Date of Passing Apr 03, 2020
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
LTC (Retired) James “Maggie” Megellas is a 96 year old World War II hero. Many feel he should have been awarded the Medal of Honor, and "our nation’s highest military combat award for valor", 68 years ago for his ‘above and beyond’ valor and leadership in the Battle of the Bulge.
Soldier, most decorated soldier in the 82nd Airborne. His awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, Presidential Citation w/cluster, the Belgium Fouragere, 6 Campaign Stars, and Master Parachutist badge. He has been nominated for the Medal of Honor several time. After his discharged from the Army with the rank of Captain, he continued serving as a Citizen- Soldier and retired with the rank of Lt. Col. He was selected by General James Gavin, the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division to receive the "Military Order of Willhelm Orange Lanyard" from the Dutch Minister of War in Berlin in 1945, the first American so honored by the Government of Holland. Magellas fought in the Italian and Western European campaign, first as a Platoon leader, then later as the Company Commander of H Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR).
He came ashore the European continent on D-Day in the Parachute Regiment. His most notable battle experiences include action in the Italian mountains near the Anzio beachhead, his combat jump into Holland as part of Operation Market Garden, crossing of the Waal River under heavy German fire in broad daylight, and the Battle of the Bulge.
He finished World War II in the occupation of Berlin and led his Company, the only Company he served with during the entire war, down 5th Avenue, New York City in the January 1946 Victory Parade. Magellas served in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for 32 years with work in Yemen, Panama, South Vietnam and Columbia. During his work with USAID, he served two years in Vietnam, leading 4,000 soldiers and civilians from Vietnam and other nations in civil-military relations. For this work he received the National Chieu Hoi Medal, and the Psychological Warfare Medal from the South Vietnamese government.
He wrote a memoir of his wartime experiences entitled All the Way to Berlin: A Paratrooper at War in Europe.
