James Megellas was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. After the war he returned to civilian life. He eventually served in the U.S. Army’s effort to aid the Republic of Vietnam in establishing an efficient infrastructure as head of Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support (CORDS) in II Corps. He is now retired and lives with wife, Carole, near Dallas.
In mid-1943 James Megellas, known as “Maggie” to his fellow paratroopers, joined the 82d Airborne Division, his new “home” for the duration. His first taste of combat was in the rugged mountains outside Naples. In October 1943, ...[SEE MORE]