World War II Honoree

Robert Alexander Montgomery

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Robert Montgomery Thomas

Relationship

Son

SERGEANT, 1942-1945. KILLED IN ACTION ON OKINAWA JUNE 21, 1945. WEAPONS COMPANY PLATOON LEADER, HEADQUARTERS 1/5/1. AWARDED BRONZE STAR WITH COMBAT 'V' “FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS A ROCKET LAUNCHER OPERATOR OF HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE DIVISION, IN ACTION AGAINST JAPANESE FORCES ON PELELIU, PALAU ISLANDS, SEPTEMBER 26, 1944. SEPARATED FROM OUR TROOPS BY INTENSE HOSTILE MACHINE GUN AND RIFLE FIRE, HE ADVANCED TO WITHIN 50 YARDS OF AN ENEMY FIELDPIECE BEING WHEELED INTO ACTIVE POSITION AND COMPLETELY EXPOSING HIMSELF TO THE HOSTILE BARRAGE, FIRED NINE ROUNDS FROM HIS WEAPON TO DESTROY THE ENEMY GUN, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING MATERIALLY TO THE COMPLETION OF HIS COMPANY’S MISSION. AWARDED SILVER STAR MEDAL POSTHUMOUSLY FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY WHILE SERVING AS LEADER OF A RIFLE PLATOON OF HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE DIVISION, IN ACTION AGAINST ENEMY JAPANESE ON OKINAWA, RYUKYU ISLANDS, MAY 6, 1945. LEADING HIS PLATOON AGAINST AN ENEMY-HELD STRONG POINT, HONOREE WORKED ON HONEY-COMBED JAPANESE POSITIONS, CONSTANTLY EXPOSING HIMSELF TO HOSTILE FIRE IN ORDER TO SEAL UP CAVES AND GUN EMPLACEMENTS FROM WHICH THE ENEMY WERE INFLICTING MANY CASUALTIES. SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE DAY, IN THE FACE OF FURIOUS BURSTS OF ENEMY FIRE, HE CARRIED WOUNDED MEN OUT OF THE HAZARDOUS AREAS TO A ZONE OF SAFETY WHERE THEY COULD OBTAIN PROPER TREATMENT. PENETRATING BEYOND COMPANY LINES THAT EVENING, HE SET UP TRAPS AND FLARES TO PREVENT THE ENEMY FROM INFILTRATING WITHOUT DETECTION.