 |
| Robert Grier Montgomery |
Who is PFC Robert G. Montgomery and why is Parkesburg's VFW post on Fourth Avenue named in his honor?
According to the Chester County Hall of Heroes web page, Robert Grier Montgomery, the Post’s namesake, was born on October 9, 1922.
His parents Ethel and Thomas lived at 501 First Ave. in Parkesburg. Robert was one of three children, older brother Thomas Jr., and younger Edward.
Robert attended Parkesburg High School, which then was located on Strasburg Avenue, today the Parkesburg School Apartments
He played on the school basketball team which won the district championship 1939- 40. Robert was a member of the Boy Scouts Troop 135 and attended the Parkesburg Baptist Church.
Robert was inducted into the Army on January 6, 1943. He received basic training at Fr. McClellan, Alabama, and stationed at Shenango, Pennsylvania, and Camp Kilmer New Jersey. He was then sent to Plymouth, England to await the invasion of Normandy. Robert served with the 29th Division, Company I, 116th Infantry.
On June 6th, Robert landed on the heavily defended coast of France, on Omaha Beach, probably in the third wave. He survived the hours of slaughter, pinned down on the Beach by intense fire with heavy casualties, until they were able to break through the German defenses. To glimpse the hell he endured, one only needs to watch the first 20 minutes of the movie "Saving Private Ryan" and stretch the 20 minutes to over 2 hours.
Robert survived as a part of the largest invasion in history, but he died on June 18th from wounds received the previous day. PFC Robert Montgomery was buried in a military cemetery in France, on the land he fought to liberate.
The family received the fateful telegram in July. Robert was the first casualty reported from Parkesburg. There were over 200 from the borough who served in the Armed forces during World War II.
A Memorial Service was held at the Parkesburg Baptist on August 6th, during which a gold star was unveiled and placed on the Church's service flag.
2 comments:
Wouldn't it be nice to know with someone's research who the other 200 soldiers were from Parkesburg who gave their lives also?
I have remember this name since a very young age. Remember his mother riding in the Memorial Day parade as a GOLD STAR MOTHER....very solemn time. Della Radcliff also was a Gold Star Mother.
Others that I remember marching in Uniform....Harry Hery, Jim Wilde, Pete Cromleigh,Jim McEwing.
Suzanne Keim Groff
Post a Comment