Lieutenant Colonel James ``maggie'' Megellas Post Office

Floor Speech

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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.

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