[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9407-S9408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING AMERICAN LEGION POST 75

  Mr. KOHL. Madam President, on July 19, 2008, American Legion 
Post 75 in Fond du Lac, WI, named its building in honor of James 
Megellas. James Megellas is one of Fond du Lac's favorite sons and this 
is indeed a fitting honor. I congratulate Post 75 and want to take a 
moment to honor James Megellas' service to our country.
  Mr. Megellas was a student at Ripon College in Ripon, WI, when Pearl 
Harbor was attacked. Upon his graduation in 1942, he accepted an ROTC 
commission as a second lieutenant in the infantry and shortly 
thereafter faced

[[Page S9408]]

combat in the mountains near Venafro, Italy. In 1943 he took part in 
Operation Shingle. In early 1944 he was part of an amphibious assault 
at Anzio. Heavy losses prevented his unit from taking part in D-day in 
Normandy. Instead, they parachuted into Holland under Operation Market 
Garden, the airborne invasion of the Netherlands. Under heavy gunfire, 
memorialized in the film ``A Bridge Too Far'', he took part in the 
famous crossing of the Waal River.
  In December of 1944, his unit was rushed into the Battle of the 
Bulge. In January 1945, as his platoon advanced toward Herresbach, 
Belgium, against heavy snow and freezing cold, they surprised some 200 
German troops who were advancing out of town. Megellas's platoon dealt 
them a serious blow. In an act of incredible bravery, Megellas ran 
toward a German Mark V tank as it was taking aim toward his platoon. He 
disabled the tank with a single grenade then, climbing atop, dropped 
another into the tank saving many of his men.
  In 1946 he led his company down 5th Avenue in New York in the Victory 
Parade. His awards have appropriately been many, including Silver 
Stars, Bronze Stars, Purple Hearts and the Distinguished Service Cross. 
He has been honored by the Government of Holland with the Military 
Order of Willhelm Orange Lanyard.
  This son of Fond du Lac served his country with honor and bravery. I 
commend him and congratulate American Legion Post 75 for bestowing this 
honor on one of Wisconsin's finest.

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