World War II Honoree

John Eldon Montgomery

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Junction City, Kansas

Honored By

U.S. Navy

Relationship

Son

SERVED IN THE U.S. NAVY JULY 6, 1943 TO APRIL 14, 1946, LEAVING THE SERVICE WITH THE RANK OF AVIATION RADIOMAN 3RD CLASS. WAS THE TAIL GUNNER ON TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIER DIVE BOMBERS: THE SBD DAUNTLESS AND THE SB2C HELLDIVER. TAKING PART IN SUCH OPERATIONS AS WAKE ISLAND, TRUK ATOLL, SAIPAN AND IWO JIMA. EXPERIENCED 327 CARRIER TAKE OFFS AND LANDINGS. ENLISTED IN THE NAVY AT THE AGE OF 17, PRIOR TO HIS GRADUATION FROM JUNCTION CITY, KANSAS HIGH SCHOOL IN 1943. THE SUMMER AFTER HIS GRADUATION, HE REPORTED TO KANSAS CITY FOR HIS PHYSICAL. HIS BOOT CAMP WAS AT FARRAGUT, IDAHO, AFTER WHICH HE ATTENDED RADIO SCHOOL IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. HE RECEIVED FLIGHT TRAINING AND ATTENDED GUNNERY SCHOOL AT CECIL FIELD, FLORIDA. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS DURING HIS TOUR OF DUTY: THE USS ENTERPRISE CV-6 AND THE USS ANTIETAM CV-36. AT THE END OF THE WAR, HE WAS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AWAITING A POSSIBLE ALLIED INVASION OF JAPAN IN A NORMANDY-LIKE OPERATION.