Customer Reviews

All the Way to Berlin: A Paratrooper at War in Europe

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Some may say Megellas is self-congratulatory, brutal, tasteless.
Others will say he is an ultimate hero. His own account indicates
to me he is like many men, somewhere between hero and villain.

And his account is above all else, frank and honest.

Megellas was not a cook, senior officer, engineer. His
Military Occupational Specialty was as he says plainly to "kill
Germans". Megellas makes it clear that persevering amidst so
much death required an unpleasant "kill or be killed", "war is
hell" mentality. Megellas admits he was brutal but that so were
the Germans and that killing can get personal if a buddy is killed.

If you like the clean Patton, Ike, Hollywood portrayals of D-Day
and Market Garden, this book is not for you. He doesn't hide his
grunt's contempt for higher-ups (Colonels and higher) or rear
echelon support types. Nor does he hide the savage behavior of
war-hardened troopers: looting dead Germans, his own stealing of wine from a church.

The book is good for authentic accounts of patrols, army jargon,
equipment (US and German), tactics, etc. Those who liked Band of
Brothers may like this. I sure did.

Is this book a glorification of war or a condemnation of its
brutality?? It's hard to tell! The author disliked patriots at
home who had an innocent view of war but he says clearly that
the Germans and Italians deserved what they got.

As one of the six Ripon College Grads who went to Ft. Knox with Jim mentioned in the book, I appreciated the Authors story. I am proud of Jim and all of his accomplishments. It was a great book, and greater story of many young men who saved the World.

A mile a minute account of the 82nd airborne in combat. Filled with stunning combat scenes that leave you on the edge of your seat. His feelings for the German civilians and reflections on higher command give a unique perspective not scene in the war movies. This is the kind of book that you will call in sick to work just to stay home and read...its that good! WARNING, this book will get you hooked on war memoirs

I am an avid reader of WWII history and have been especially interested in the ETO. I have read all of the late Stephen Ambrose's WWII offerings and particularly liked the way Ambrose would quote the soldiers so that the reader could get a better understanding of what it was like to really be there. As much as I respect Ambrose's writings, he wasn't there. Maggie was. James Megellas (Maggie) tells it like it was, and pulls no punches. Through his writing, I was able to gain insight into his thoughts and emotions before, during and after battle in a way that no third party author could convey to a reader. I had the pleasure of meeting James Megellas recently in Dallas and am proud to say that I shook the hand of a true American hero. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what it really like to fight in the ETO in WWII.

My wife and I had a few minutes to kill in Dallas/Ft. Worth before catching a connecting flight to our spring vacation destination. The airport was full of people. As we were cruising hte terminal for a bite to eat, I observed a distinguished-looking old man in full military dress uniform sitting quietly at a small card table precariously positioned between the throngs of traveling traffic and a tiny bookstore. On top of the table beside his folded hands was a small stack of books. The chaotic masses appeared oblivious to his presence. I noticed his chest full of medals.

Lt. James "Maggie" Megallas was the most decorated officer of the 82nd Airborne Division following World War II. From the rugged mountains of Naples in winter, and the beaches at Anzio, to the Battle of the Bulge, few men have survived more combat. 'All the Way to Berlin' is a sobering account of his experiences. I was awestruck by the daring and heroic crossing of the Waal River and the capturing of the bridges at Nijmegen as part of Montgomery's "vainglorious" Market Garden operation.

I pray that for the sake of the future of our nation you will remember these men and share their story with someone you love.

James Megellas has done a wonderful job of blending action, human interest, and history together with a refreshing first- hand perspective. He pulls no punches in telling you in detail what he and the other paratroopers were thinking and doing while on the front lines. What Dick Winters (Band of Brothers) was to E/506, Megellas was to H/504.

The action is sparingly interspersed with poignant reflections about the role of the paratrooper during WWII. On page 72, for example, Megellas comments very honestly on the meaning of "War is Hell" to a paratrooper compared to commentators who have never been in battle. A commentary on page 85 based on a speech Eisenhower made to the troops in England I found to be insightful as well.

H Company did it all in WWII, which makes this book especially significant from a historical perspective. Regarding the crossing of the Waal River, Megellas says on page 139: "In daring and heroics, it was a feat perhaps unequaled by American forces anywhere in World War II."

There are many accounts in this book I have not seen elsewhere including of how my uncle, S/Sgt David "Rosie" Rosenkrantz, was killed in Holland a week after the Waal River crossing.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read real stories of what what happened to our fighting men in WWII. (By Dr. Phil Rosenkrantz, Cal Poly University, Pomona)

I am an avid student of history, especially military history. I have read literally hundreds of books about WWII. This is without a doubt the best account of what war at the level of the infantryman is like. Mr. Megellas fought with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division from Anzio to Holland to The Ardennes (Bulge) to Germany. He and his Co. H troopers were in the first wave in what many have called the second Omaha beach; the epic crossing of the Waal River in Nijmegen, Holland to capture the massive railroad and highway bridges. This was actually the first crossing of the Rhine River by an allied unit. It was arguably the greatest feat of arms in WWII. The accounts of Mr. Megellas and his men tell this story better than any I've read. They literally take you into the middle of the battle as they describe the crossing and the assault on the bridges.

Another very unigue part of the book is telling the story the 3rd Battlion played in the capture of Cheneux, Belgium where the 504th was the first American unit to defeat the 1st SS Panzer Division's Kampfgruppe Peiper during the Battle of the Bulge. This was the armored spearhead of the German effort in the Battle of the Bulge.

This book weaves many accounts of the men of Co. H 504th PIR together without redundancy. You not only read about the combat, but the daily struggle to survive under the harshest of elements in the winter of 1944-45 without adequate winter clothing, the constant search for food, and the lack of sleep day after day while being subjected to a deadly game where your reflexes and senses needed to be sharp just to survive.

You learn about the inner thoughts of the men. How the loss of their own brothers in other units on other battlefields affected them. You gain an understanding of how these men were closer than brothers, where each man's life depended on the courage of his fellow paratroopers.

These paratroopers were among the best fighting men that any country has ever produced. This book tells their story in a very riveting fashion with no phoney heroics. But, if you want to know what real heroism is, then read this book.

If you enjoyed T. Moffatt Burriss' "Strike and Hold" you will certainly enjoy this book. If "Saving Private Ryan" opened your eyes to the sacrifice of the WWII combat veterans, then this book is a must read.

After reading several reviews about this book, I felt compelled to comment.

I read Mr. Megellas' book after having the pleasure and honor of meeting him in the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. It was a real treat for me to have the opportunity shake his hand and talk with him for a few minutes. As time rolls on, opportunities to meet a veteran, much less a hero of World War II are few and far between. We talked a bit about Operation Market Garden and his plans to go to Holland. I can tell you that in my brief encounter with him that he was very proud, humble and personable.

With that said, I think that the critic's who accuse Mr. Megellas of being self-serving are very wrong in their assessment. This book is written in a style that is very direct, blunt, straight forward and "matter of fact". There are no words wasted beating around the bush or attempts at being politically correct. By his own accord, the author admits to us that it has taken him years to write these words because they are so painful to repeat. I do not get the sense that he is bragging. I get the sense that he is sharing his pain with the reader and giving us his impression of the unbelievable experience he lived through. It goes without saying this man is a hero.

This book is an excellent read and I would recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in World War 2 or combat. It's so packed full of action I can't believe they haven't made a movie about it.

A hero relates his experiences from start to finish. My Grandfather was a decorated Paratrooper in the 517th, Company I, and while reading Maggie's book, I couldn't help but envision my Grandfather being in the next foxhole over. Thanks to these brave men, I'll never know the true sacrifices that a world war requires.

I met Maggie at the Oshkosh, WI EAA AirVenture this last summer (2004), and thanked him personally for what he went through. His book, while not the most PC book, shouldn't be... it was written about a different time, about horrific things, and about real men. If you'd like to read a real hero's perspective on the Airborne in WWII, try this book.

One of the best combat narratives I have ever read. Engrossing, and compelling in its brutaly honest depiction of total warfare. Highly recomended.