World War II Honoree

Theodore Major 'Bud' Montgomery

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Ash Grove, Missouri

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

INDUCTED INTO MILITARY SERVICE IN AUGUST, 1942. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER INITIALLY AT FORT RILEY AT JUNCTION CITY, KANSAS. SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM (ASTP) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOR TRAINING IN CIVIL ENGINEERING. UPON COMPLETION, WAS REASSIGNED TO THE MANHATTAN ENGINEER DISTRICT IN THE SPECIAL ENGINEERING DIVISION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, IN ILLINOIS. THE MANHATTAN PROJECT WAS THE CODE NAME GIVEN TO THE AMERICAN PROGRAM TO DEVELOP AN ATOMIC BOMB. NEXT, SERVED AT THE TRINITY NUCLEAR TEST SITE AT THE ALAMOGORDO BOMBING AND GUNNERY RANGE IN NEW MEXICO. WORKED THERE UNTIL AFTER THE DETONATION OF THE FIRST ATOMIC FISSION EXPLOSION ON JULY 16, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AFTER THE WAR, HE WAS EMPLOYED AS A CIVILIAN TO WORK WITH THE U.S. NAVY AT THE TESTS AT BIKINI ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.