Elmer Montgomery (FF 1082) - Naval Cruise Book

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I had the great personal fortune of knowing Elmer Mont- omery. We first met on Guam in late 1944. We needed a clerk- ypist, Sgt. Montgomery reported. Work piled high and the ,ours were long in that little quonset hut office, but when Elmer aid have a moment, he would lean his chair against the wall and ull a small, White leather-covered Bible from his hip pocket. Vherever the Bible fell open in his hand he would begin to read and find serenity. The other NCO's had trouble figuring Elmer, but they lik- d him. He was quiet and a bit Withdrawn, but he was no loner . He could chuckle at a bawdy joke and join in the bull essions, though he winced at some of the more earthy profan- ay. In February we sailed for Iwo Jima. After several days of .erce fighting, division staff sections were ordered to provide eplacements for badly mauled front-line units I had to provide vvo. I selected the two I thought could best be spared from my upply operation. I was just about to send the names to the divi- ion adjutant when my executive officer popped into my dug- ut. Sgt. Montgomery wanted to see me. The sergeant saluted and informed me he had heard about he call for reinforcements. You're not one of them , I told img thinking it would put his mind at ease. That's what I talk J you about, Colonel, he said, I Want to go forward. I ex- lained that I considered him essential to our supply mission nd for the first time he argued. He wasn't loud, but he was rm. I'll never feel right if I don't go up when I'1n needed, e said. Pm needed now. I'm older than most of these kids. ve had a lot of experience looking after myself while hunting ack home in Montana. I can look after them up forward. I fN1 i Lf' for I fi , Q S7 Ship's Namesake: GT Elmer Montgomery The following Tribute of a Marine, quoted in part, was written by former Assistant Secretary of the Navy James D. Hittle. It is printed here to provide an insight into the character of the man in whose honor this ship is named. realized he Wouldn't take no for an answer. I never saw Elmer again. A Marine from his frontline unit told me the story. The platoon commander had been killed and Elmer was assigned under a staff sergeant as assistant platoon commander. The or- der came to attack. The patched up platoon moved across a slight rise to and into a small saucer-shaped area where it was pinned down by a carefully camouflaged Japanese machine gun. If they stayed, they would soon be blasted apart by mor- tars. Elmer crawled and rolled within yelling distance of the staff sergeant. The Marine who told me the story paused, pulled on his cigarette and pressed a bandage on his arm tighter against his own wound. Sgt. Montgomery yelled, when I draw the fire, roll the platoon over the rise. And while the platoon commander was saying no Sgt. Montgomery stood up and fir- ing his rifle from his hip, walked into the machine gun. We're here because he drew the fire long enough for us to slide back over the rise. They never found Elmer. A few minutes after his platoon reached safety, our artillery laid down a barrage on the ma- chine gun emplacement. The big shells churned the ground and everything on it mercilessly. He and his little white leather-cov- ered Bible became, forever, part of the hallowed ground of Iwo Jima. ' I suppose memories fade and maybe Sgt. Montgomery's decoration for bravery is almost forgotten, but whenever I think back to all the brave men I have been privileged to know, Elmer heads the list. 1