James Megellas, 103-Year-Old WWII Hero, Passes Away

Then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley hosts
Lt. Col. James “Maggie” Megellas at Pentagon
in 2017. (Photo by Sgt. Jamill Ford/Army)

Updated August 1, 2020: This post was originally posted on March 2, 2008.

We are sad to learn that retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel James “Maggie” Megellas, "the most decorated officer in the history of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division," passed away on April 2, 2020 at the age of 103.

Lt. Col. Megellas, of Colleyville, Texas and a Life Member of AHEPA Chapter 369, Madison, Wisconsin, passed away April 2, 2020. He was 103 years old.

Read his amazing story at The National Herald. Here's an excerpt:
James Megellas’ acts of valor demonstrated at the Battle of the Bulge, which warrant review because of errors in Army records, are deserving of the Medal of Honor. There, he led a surprise and devastating attack on a much larger advancing enemy force, killing and capturing a large number and causing others to flee, single-handedly destroying an attacking German Mark V tank with two hand-held grenades, and then leading his men in clearing and seizing Herresbach.

In addition to the Battle of the Bulge, Megellas fought in Africa, Anzio, Operation Market Garden, the Waal River Crossing, and Occupied Berlin.

James Megellas in 2009
(Wikipedia)

More at Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and Wikipedia.

Original Post, March 2, 2008: 

James Megellas, the most decorated officer in the history of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, just can’t sit still. At 91, the old soldier spent a day outside the USO at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport last month, greeting troops heading to the war zone and handing out copies of his World War II memoir, "All the Way to Berlin." From DallasNews.com (Editor's Note: Old link, expired)