World War II Honoree

Recil Leon Montgomery

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Sioux City, Iowa

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 18, 1940 at Des Moines, Iowa, with recruit training assigned to the Sixth Recruit Battalion Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California for combat training. Following infantry training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands and based at Fort Mills Location: Corregidor Island AKA: the Rock. Assigned to Service Company an element of the Fourth Marine Regiment. His unit participated in the Battle of Corregidor against the Imperial Japanese forces (Battle Dates: May 5-6, 1942). Captured on the second day of the invasion, when his Commander General Wainwright capitulated to the enemy. As a prisoner, he was transferred to the Prisoner of War Camp #1 Cabanatuan, Luzon Island. He died of unknown causes June 7, 1942, with burial in the Prisoner Cemetery. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine requested that he be buried at Manila American Cemetery Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.