American Valor Quarterly Issue 12 - Spring 2015 | Page 3
The American Veterans Center
Spring 2015 | Issue 12
www.americanveteranscenter.org
World War II Veterans Committee
www.wwiivets.com
National Vietnam Veterans Committee
www.vietnamvetscommittee.org
In This Issue...
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NEWS from
the american
veter ans center &
world war II committee
Your update on the many programs,
projects and events currently underway
with the AVC & WWIIVC, and
information on how you can get
involved.
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D-Day to the
Eagle’s Nest
From Colonel Edward Shames
One of the original “Toccoa men”
of the 506th Parachute Infantry
Regiment, Edward Shames served as
a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne
Division throughout the European
Theater of World War II, earning the
first battlefield commission of any man
in the division. He would go on to lead
a platoon with the famed “Band of
Brothers.”
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LEADING FROM
THE FRONT
From Lieutenant
Colonel James “Maggie” Megellas
A harrowing account from one of
the legendary soldiers of the “AllAmerican” 82nd Airborne Division.
“Maggie” Megellas served in Italy,
France, and Germany, being awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star,
and was recommended for the Medal of
Honor, making him the most decorated
officer in 82nd Airborne history.
SPRING 2015
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AN HONOR AND A
PRIVILEGE TO SERVE
From Jim “Pee Wee” Martin
On June 6, 1944, Private First Class
Jim “Pee Wee” Martin jumped into
Normandy with the 506th Parachute
Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne,
the unit in which he served throughout
the rest of the war. Exactly 70 years later
- June 6, 2014 - Martin made headlines
around the world as he parachuted
once more onto the legendary D-Day
battlefield.
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THEY DESERVE
THEIR PLACE IN
HISTORY
From Donald R. Burgett
After serving with the 101st Airborne
Division throughout the entire European
campaign from D-Day to Hitler’s Eagle’s
Nest mountain retreat (where he readily
helped himself to Hitler’s private wine
cellar), Donald Burgett came home to
author several classic accounts of World
War II. Among them was “Currahee! A
Screaming Eagle at Normandy,” which
was personally endorsed by General
Eisenhower in its portrayal of the
paratrooper’s experience during the war.
the year
of the
Airborne
Normandy. Market Garden. The Battle
of the Bulge. Germany. June, 1944 to
May, 1945 can arguably be dubbed “The
Year of the Airborne,” as the men of the
82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions cemented their place in history with a series of
defining actions in the iconic battles of the
European Theater in World War II.
In this issue of AVQ, we meet four men
who served with the airborne throughout
the war, from training in the States victory
in Germany, 70 years ago, in May, 1945.
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