Maggie s War The forces of evil were running rampant across Europe, leaving a path of death and destruction in their wake. If left unchecked, the evil would engulf all freedom-loving people. No place on Earth would be free of Nazi oppression. In the mountains of Italy, I and many others received our baptism of fire in our first days in combat. Nothing we experienced could possibly have prepared us for combat. We had to undergo a transformation from peace-loving men to killers. The change would be gut-wrenching, but it would happen as night follows day. Death in battle was not unexpected and was accepted without remorse. It only served to strengthen our resolve. For enlisted replacements, their Squad leader, a noncommissioned officer, became the most important man in the Army. Sergeants would lead them against the enemy. It was their Squad Sergeants they would look to first. They would then look to their buddies in platoons and companies. Many men knew the particular place or a specific time or battle when they transformed to the role of a killer, Photo from All The Way to Berlin, A Paratrooper at when they no longer held fear of death. War in Europe by Maggie; an Airborne epic on Up My personal metamorphosis was on Front leadership and life and death Brotherhood. the Anzio beachhead where I killed my first German. From that day in February 1944 until the end of the war, I had only one purpose in life: to lead my platoon in battle and kill Germans. For a new replacement, H Company became his home. Just as it was for me. He fought as part of a team that looked out for one another. He followed his squad or platoon leader without hesitation or question. The men who fought with him became more than his buddies or comrades in arms. A relationship beyond brotherhood developed among them. After the tide of battle turned in the winter of 1944-45 and the Wehrmacht began retreating, the end of an endless war finally appeared to be in sight. Instead of German bodies littering the landscape, hordes of surrendering Germans now clogged roads. Another transformation then occurred, from battle-hardened killers back to peaceful young men. As returning veterans we were now challenged to display the same level of devotion to become useful, productive members of society. I m proud to say my comrades in arms and other returning veterans accepted that challenge and continued serving their communities and nation with dedication and devotion. - from All The Way to Berlin, by Jim Megellas. (Have Maggie sign a copy!)
He was the bravest man I ever saw. We would follow him anywhere. - SSG Bill Hannigan, Squad Leader, Maggie s Platoon Excerpts from Maggie s medal citations: The Distinguished Service Cross (To Lt. James Megellas) For extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy as a Platoon Leader, H/504 PIR on 30 Sept, 1944 in Holland. 1st Lt. Megellas led his platoon on a combat patrol to secure information and prisoners. Arriving at the enemy observation post, he crawled forward alone and killed two outpost guards and the crew of a machine gun nest. He brought forward his patrol, attacked the main enemy defenses and singlehandedly secured three prisoners and killed two more. The blockhouses were then attacked and destroyed. He withdrew his platoon through the enemy lines under mortar fire. He personally carried a wounded man while firing his Thompson with one hand. Lt. Megellas' extraordinary heroism and brilliant leadership forced the enemy to abandon their planned offensive. His conduct was an inspiration to his men and a credit to the United States Airborne Forces. The Silver Star For gallantry in action 0n 20 Dec. 1944 near Cheneux Belgium. Lt. Megellas, with utter disregard for his personal safety, fearlessly charged down the hill toward the enemy, calling for his men to follow him. He sighted a large force of enemy armor and infantry and an AT gun firing on friendly Tank destroyers. Unhesitatingly, Lt. Megellas opened fire upon its crew, killing all eight. The enemy raked the trees with a curtain of intense fire, wounding one of the men. Lt. Megellas fearlessly picked up the wounded man and led his small force to cover, reformed it and led them to seize the objective. The Silver Star * For gallantry in action on 28 Jan, 1945, near Herresbach, Belgium. After breaking trail for 12 hours in deep snow, 1st Lt. Megellas was ordered to advance with his platoon into Herresbach. About 1 mile from the town his platoon (27 men) was fired upon by about 200 Germans. He led a frontal assault on the startled enemy who attempted to fight back. His direction and leadership was so superb that within 10 minutes the entire force of enemy was either killed, captured or fled. He reorganized his platoon and followed the enemy into the town. Braving heavy enemy sniper and rifle fire,
Up Front Paratrooper he personally took a leading part in flushing the enemy out of their houses, killing eight and capturing five. As a result of Lt. Megellas fearless leadership and skillful handling of his men, over 100 enemy were killed, 180 captured and large amounts of valuable equipment fell into our hands. This feat was accomplished without the loss of a single man wounded or killed. 1st Lt. Megellas demonstrated a remarkable degree of tactical skill and a brand of courageous leadership which reflects highly upon himself and the Airborne Forces. * The Bronze Star For heroic action against the enemy on 9 Feb 1944 near Carrecto, Italy. Lt. Megellas volunteered to lead a large combat patrol with the mission of rescuing a British Brigadier who, with his staff, had been trapped between friendly and enemy lines. Megellas worked his way across 200 yards of flat, open terrain covered by deadly small arms and automatic fire until he and his group reached the Brigadier. Realizing a diversionary attack was necessary to enable the Brigadier and staff to withdraw to safety, Lt. Megellas led his patrol in the face of murderous fire against a strong enemy force well ensconced on the nearby high ground. Lt. Megellas, although seriously wounded, continued the attack until, assured of the Brigadier s safety, he organized a withdrawal of his own small force. The Bronze Star By direction of the President, 26 June 1950, Maggie was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy on 10 Aug 1944 in the ETO. The Purple Heart Maggie was twice awarded the Purple Heart for serious wounds he received in combat. In addition Maggie holds numerous campaign and Infantry decorations. Maggie has received the DAR s Medal of Honor and awards from AHEPA and American, Dutch and German Infantry organizations. In 2010 Maggie received the Civilian Medal from MG Curtis Scaparotti, 82nd Airborne Division Commander. He is honored and loved by Paratroopers everywhere. * This Silver Star Citation omits the most daring, above and beyond part of Maggie s heroic action at Herresbach. He singlehandedly charged a Mark V tank which was firing on his platoon. Armed only with his Thompson and two grenades, Maggie raced through the open, knocked out the tank and saved his men. For his total action at Herresbach, then Exec Officer Lt. Edward Sims, recommended Maggie for the Medal of Honor. Col. Sims, 92, continues his appeals to the Pentagon and Presidents. Please join us in supporting Col. Sim s work. The Sim s Team
H Co 504 PIR, 82nd Airborne Division Military historian Ltc Guy LoFaro, states the WWII 82nd Airborne distinguished itself, even above the 101st, thru a warrior independence ethos that pushed self-starter, spontaneous leadership from the fire teams to the Generals. H Company/504, the point of the 504 spear from Sicily, Maiori, Anzio, the Mussolini Canal, Nijmegen, Herresbach to Berlin, epitomized this ethos. War is fought at the platoon level and led by platoon leaders, NCOs and fire teams. We had lots of leaders in H Company/504, says Maggie. We were trained to fight and win in small groups. You wanted to be there. We felt like an 82nd squad was a match for a German platoon, - says Bill Hannigan, a squad leader in Maggie s platoon. Although the 82nd was not much for public relations or bravado, the 504 was honored in Presidential Unit Citations and Maggie was chosen by Gen. Gavin to receive the first ever Holland decoration to foreign soldiers, the Dutch Orange Lanyard which adorns the Division s colors today. Recognized as a leading fighting unit in Sicily the President honored H Co and the 504 again and again. At Anzio, Feb. 8-13, 1944, the President cited H Co for holding a sector in danger of being overrun by the Germans. Although this company was surrounded and isolated by the enemy, it held the vital ground courageously and stubbornly the succeeding 24 hours against continuous and determined hostile assaults....the 3rd Bn displayed the highest type of individual and coordinated combat skill... Officers and men of the 3/504 consistently distinguished themselves by aggressive patrolling, exceptional initiative and great individual courage. As a result of this tenacious and intrepid action, a severe enemy threat to the beachhead was eliminated. At Nijmegen, Sept. 20, 1944, for outstanding performance of duty and extraordinary heroism in action: 26 small, canvas boats were launched by groups of self-led paratroopers. When the boats were halfway across the river, they were met by automatic fire from the opposite bank. Artillery fire including aerial bursts, exploded among the boats and on the assembly area. Only 13 of the boats returned for succeeding waves, while troops of the first wave floundered ashore and charged up the banks in the face of intense grazing fire. They bayonetted the enemy in their foxholes and trenches and knocked out machine guns and flak towers in close combat with small arms, knives, and grenades, thereby permitting the successful crossing of the succeeding waves. In this magnificent accomplishment, the men of the 3/504,...conducted themselves with heroism, gallantry and daring The 504 was later cited again for crossing the Rhine. Capt. James Maggie Megellas led H Co down Fifth Avenue as the Division was honored in the Victory Parade. Most of the marchers were replacements. The paratroopers in H Co....bore little resemblance to the unit that was surrounded and cut off by the Germans on the Anzio Beachhead. It was a far cry from the company that had fought at Cheneux, Bra, Petite Halleaux and Herresbach, writes Maggie in his Airborne Epic, All The Way to Berlin. As he saw former combat buddies along the march, H Co Commander Megellas would order eyes right or, eyes left towards his friends. They and the other H Company men we saluted deserved the honor more than the dignitaries on the reviewing stand. In recent years, LTC Megellas, in the timeless paratrooper bond, has visited the 504 abroad three times. At 504 s Camp Salerno on the Afghan/Pakistan border, Maggie s Brothers handed him an automatic rifle, 50 rounds of ammo and commenced a patrol with one of the most iconic, heroic figures of American military history. The All American ethos lives!