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Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 45th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near, Padiglione, Italy, 22 February 1944.
Entered service at:
Sallisaw, Okla. Birth: Long, Okla. G.O. No.: 5, 15 January 1945. Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond
the call of duty on 22 February 1944, near Padiglione, Italy. Two hours
before daybreak a strong force of enemy infantry established themselves
in 3 echelons at 50 yards, 100 yards, and 300 yards, respectively, in front
of the rifle platoons commanded by 1st Lt. Montgomery. The closest position,
consisting of 4 machineguns and 1 mortar, threatened the immediate security
of the platoon position. Seizing an Ml rifle and several hand grenades,
1st Lt. Montgomery crawled up a ditch to within hand grenade range of the
enemy. Then climbing boldly onto a little mound, he fired his rifle and
threw his grenades so accurately that he killed 8 of the enemy and captured
the remaining 4. Returning to his platoon, he called for artillery fire
on a house, in and around which he suspected that the majority of the enemy
had entrenched themselves. Arming himself with a carbine, he proceeded
along the shallow ditch, as withering fire from the riflemen and machinegunners
in the second position was concentrated on him. He attacked this position
with such fury that 7 of the enemy surrendered to him, and both machineguns
were silenced. Three German dead were found in the vicinity later that
morning. 1st Lt. Montgomery continued boldly toward the house, 300 yards
from his platoon position. It was now daylight, and the enemy observation
was excellent across the flat open terrain which led to 1st Lt. Montgomery's
objective. When the artillery barrage had lifted, 1st Lt. Montgomery ran
fearlessly toward the strongly defended position. As the enemy started
streaming out of the house, 1st Lt. Montgomery, unafraid of treacherous
snipers, exposed himself daringly to assemble the surrendering enemy and
send them to the rear. His fearless, aggressive, and intrepid actions that
morning, accounted for a total of 11 enemy dead, 32 prisoners, and an unknown
number of wounded. That night, while aiding an adjacent unit to repulse
a counterattack, he was struck by mortar fragments and seriously wounded.
The selflessness and courage exhibited by 1st Lt. Montgomery in alone attacking
3 strong enemy positions inspired his men to a degree beyond estimation.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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