1LT James Robert Montgomery

courtesy of Frogman

1LT James Robert Montgomery was born 22 Nov 1915 in Frankfort, Kentucky. He was the 5th of 6 children born to Staiar Prittle and Mary Elizabeth (Thomlinson) Montgomery. Mary was Staiar's 2nd wife. Staiar worked as a clerk for an insurance company and later for Kentucky and the State Auto Board. In 1930 James had started his work life as a newsboy. He managed to attend 2 years of college and like his father, had worked as a bookkeeper/clerk.

James was drafted in October 1941. With his college education he likely was tagged to be an officer early on. After attending the Officer Candidate Course he likely had other assignments before being sent to England where he was assigned as one of the plus-ups to Anti-Tank Company 116th Infantry on 4 Jun 1944. He landed with that unit in the amphibious assault on Omaha Beach on 6 Jun 1944. He continued to fight with the AT Company until 24 Jun 1944 when he was reassigned to I Company 116th Infantry to serve as a Platoon Leader. 1LT Montgomery was killed in action on 12 Jul 1944.

1LT Montgomery now rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery. There is also a cenotaph for James in the Georgetown Cemetery in Georgetown, Kentucky.

James had 2 brothers who also served in the war. Older brother Harry Winn Montgomery served as a PFC in the U.S. Army. Younger brother Henry Partloe Montgomery also served as a 1LT in the U.S. Army in the European theater. The latter is not to be confused with their half-brother by their father's first wife, Henry Partlow Montgomery.