2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 7, 2010 18:59:12 GMT -5
At the Packers game the most decorated officer of WW2 James Maggie Magellas is going to be honored at half time. He is a former Fond du Lac resident. (although he now lives outside Dallas) He is 93. He served with the 82nd and while he missed the Normandy jump due to wounds suffered in Italy he made every other 82nd jump of the war. They jumped several times before the 101st made their first jump at Normandy.
I met him on a flight to Dallas perhaps six years ago. Incredible man. He looked to be in his late 60s then! I had small airborne wings on my lapel which caught his eye. After talking to him on the flight I suggested he should write a book. (I assumed the guy was making the stuff up!) He explained that he had and handed me his book which he promptly autographed for me.
His book is titled All The Way to Berlin. He was a true warrior in every sense. Once it became obvious to him that there was no way he was likely to survive the war he just went about his business unrelentingly. Though an officer he was always upfront and always taking more risk than his men. He used a Thompson to great effect and received far fewer promotions than his decorations would suggest. He was decidedly unpopular with his superiors as he was anything but by the book.
His is a great story and should be read by anyone interested in first person accounts. Glad to see the Packers game honoring him which will be a first for a WW2 veteran oddly enough.
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Post by charleyfoxtrot on Nov 9, 2010 10:15:57 GMT -5
I am a teacher in Southern Illinois and a student of mine had almost the same experience. We have a WWII paintball team (its cheaper on the kids and there are more big games) and he was wearing his team jacket and Magellas just starts talking to him, and gives him an autographed book. He even gave the kid his phone number abd said he could call anytime. At first I though it was bs, but his Mom came in for a conference and said the same thing. I went out and bought the audio book for a road trip and it is very impressive.
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