A Look Through the Past: A Veterans Day Salute

World War II Veteran Captain James V. Morgia’s Story

Captain James V. Morgia, a 102 year old veteran of the United States Army, served in both World War II and the Battle of the Bulge. Captain Morgia recently attended a community event at the Baldwin Senior Center in commemoration of Veterans Day on Monday, November 11^th.

Captain Morgia attended the event sponsored by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, as he is petitioning her to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Captain Morgia served in the 334 Infantry Regiment, 84 Infantry Division of the United States Army. “All soldiers in the military are referred to as “G.I’s”, Captain Morgia states.“I always like to emphasize the “gi” in my name, as G.I means soldier.” 

The battle that Captain Morgia felt had the greatest impact on him was the Battle of the Bulge, saving 7,000 troops after German soldiers had plotted to lure American troops to a small town in Belgium to kill them.  

Captain Morgia believes, “The most important thing that ever happened in the Battle of Bulge was something I was involved in. Because the Germans were master manipulators, they had lured American troops into a town called Beho that they had already controlled and trapped them there, as they thought that once they had all the troops there they would send two tanks to attack the town. Very early in the morning I saw the two tanks on a hill and ordered an artillery strike and I took out the two tanks, saving 7,000 troops.” 

He was a second lieutenant in the famous 84th Infantry Division, also known as the Lincoln and Railsplitter Division.

“We were facing a desperate, focused enemy hell-bent on defending their homeland,” Morgia said of the German army. It was a time that later would be called “The Battle of the Bulge.” Morgia, at 22, found himself leading Easy Company because his commander was away on a three-day pass in Paris.

German forces were on high ground, set to destroy the town of Beho, Belgium, near the German border. In what was later acclaimed as an innovative battlefield strategy, Morgia, on January 22, 1945, led his 150-man company single file up a hill in waist-high snow and below-zero weather in the dark at 5 a.m. to surprise the Germans.

A German sentry shouted, “Halt,” to Morgia but Morgia replied, “Halt, hell. Let’s go.” His men followed and Morgia directed artillery fire destroying German Tiger tanks and winning a huge victory.

Morgia likened his strategy to George Washington’s surprise attack on Hessian forces when he crossed the icy Delaware River in the dark of night.

Morgia figured the victory at Beho shortened the war by 30 days and saved thousands of lives, including the townspeople of Beho. He received a Silver Star for his valor and leadership. He had earned a Bronze Star earlier in his military career.

He recounts the Beho battle in his book, “Three Day Pass: Beho, Breakthrough, Battles Beyond.”

Captain Morgia, is the last living one to tell the story of the Battle of the Bulge, which earned him a Silver Star at the age of 22. He grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and spent most of his 102 years in the East. Captain Morgia is a war hero, a chemical engineer, a woodmaker, and author.

Morgia was born on September. 30, 1922, in Bridgeport, the son of Italian immigrants. His last name is derived from La Morgia, a limestone rock island near Rome. He is proud of the fact that he has been “a rock” in his military life and personal life.

After the war, Morgia returned home and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He then earned a master’s degree in chemistry from New York University. He was hired as a chief chemist by Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford and spent 32 years there before retiring in 1987.

When he was 29, he married Mae DiRenzo, on May 10, 1952, and they raised five children (three girls and two boys) in Stratford. His wife died on March 24 last year.

Since Captain Morgia’s time in the military, he has grown to make a positive and effective use of his time. He has gained a free three year college education, written seven books on both his time in Beho and how people can help themselves, and has made efforts to assist the elderly through his inventions of the “Knee High Planter” and the “Halo Light”.

Captain Morgia states, “I’ve been working on certain things that can help older people. I invented what is called the Knee High Planter which can help elderly who can’t bend down fully to gain access to food and their plants. I also invented what I call the Halo Light, which puts a halo light over a person’s grave.”

Captain Morgia has devoted much of his time to being hands-on and helping the people around him, whether it is through his books, inventions, or his lasting impact. This contributes to his approach that people should be more open to doing more routine things. He suggests that people should be problem solvers to not only become a higher rank, but to become a better version of themselves. 

Captain Morgia states, “In war, I found out fast that the important thing is being a problem solver. A lot of times if you can think on your feet and come up with a solution on your feet you are officer material.”