[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H1070-H1071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAMES ``MAGGIE'' MEGELLAS POST OFFICE
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 1826) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 99 West 2nd Street in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, as the
Lieutenant Colonel James ``Maggie'' Megellas Post Office.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 1826
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAMES ``MAGGIE'' MEGELLAS POST
OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 99 West 2nd Street in Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin, shall be known and designated as the ``Lieutenant
Colonel James `Maggie' Megellas Post Office''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the ``Lieutenant Colonel James `Maggie'
Megellas Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Russell) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.
General Leave
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of S. 1826, introduced by Senator Ron Johnson
of Wisconsin.
The bill designates the post office at 99 West Second Street in Fond
du Lac, Wisconsin, as the Lieutenant Colonel James ``Maggie'' Megellas
Post Office.
Our colleague and fellow member of the House Committee on Oversight
and Government Reform, Representative Glenn Grothman, introduced a
House companion bill, but we are pleased today to be taking up the
Senate version, as it will get to the President's desk faster.
Retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Megellas is a highly
decorated veteran of World War II and an individual whose story is one
of remarkable bravery.
He graduated from college in 1942, accepting a commission as a second
lieutenant in the United States Army, where he served--courageously, I
might add--as an elite paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division.
One of the most remarkable stories about Lieutenant Colonel Megellas
comes during service in the Battle of the Bulge, where he single-
handedly destroyed a German Panther tank and saved the lives of many of
his men.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill and name a post
office after this true American hero.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Megellas was born and raised in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and was
commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army following his
graduation from Ripon College in 1942.
As was mentioned, serving as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne
Division during World War II, then-1st Lieutenant Megellas courageously
led his platoon in the Battle of the Bulge.
Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to commemorate the strong
leadership
[[Page H1071]]
Lieutenant Colonel James Megellas exhibited in his courageous defense
of our country during World War II.
I urge the passage of S. 1826.
I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1445
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman), my friend and colleague.
Mr. GROTHMAN. First, I thank my colleague from Oklahoma and my
colleague from Missouri for saying such nice things about Lieutenant
Colonel Megellas. I also thank Senator Johnson, who did a good job of
getting this through the U.S. Senate.
Mr. Speaker, as has been said, Lieutenant Colonel Megellas was born
in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and went to school in Ripon, Wisconsin,
before he joined the military. He was truly a hero of the Greatest
Generation. His most notable battle experiences included action in the
Italian mountains near the Anzio beachhead, his combat jump into
Holland as part of the Operation Market Garden, his crossing of the
Waal River under heavy German fire in broad daylight, and the Battle of
the Bulge in January of 1945, when he singlehandedly destroyed a German
Mark V Panther Tank and led his platoon on one of the most distinctive
actions of the war without there being a single American casualty.
We have also offered a private bill that tries to get Mr. Megellas
the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of the Bulge.
Today, Mr. Megellas lives in Colleyville, Texas, with his wife,
Carole. I have met him and it was just tremendous. Currently he is 98
years old. In a couple of weeks he will be 99. He is as sharp as a tack
and is agile. I am very honored to be able to introduce this bill, and
I just can't look forward enough to the day in Fond du Lac when I will
see Lieutenant Colonel Megellas' name up there at the post office on
2nd Street.
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, that was quite a description of Mr. Megellas
at the young age of--about to be--99. He should be an inspiration to us
all. I urge the passage of the bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call for the immediate
passage of S. 1826, a bill to rename the post office located at 99 West
2nd Street in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, as the Lieutenant Colonel James
``Maggie'' Megellas Post Office.
It is my great honor to recognize Lieutenant Colonel James Megellas
(Ret), and to call Maggie a constituent of the 24th District of Texas.
In 1942, Maggie accepted an ROTC commission as a second lieutenant in
the infantry and shortly thereafter faced combat in Italy. Notably, in
January 1945, Maggie and his platoon advanced toward Herresbach,
Belgium, and came upon 200 German troops who were advancing out of
town. In an act of selflessness and bravery, Lt. Col. Megellas sprinted
toward a German tank as it took aim at his fellow soldiers. He disabled
the tank with a grenade, then dropped another into the tank eliminating
the threat his men faced from the combat vehicle.
Lt. Col Megellas has been honored with many awards, including the
Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross. Lt. Col Megellas is
beyond deserved of having this post office location named in his honor.
I continue to commend Maggie on serving his country with honor and
bravery, as a shining example of courage and as a member of the
greatest generation America has known.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I
ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing the
sacrifice and bravery of Lt. Col Megellas and urge for the swift
passage of S. 1826.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Russell) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 1826.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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