Private Richard Paul Montag, A Soldier's Story
Private Richard Paul Montag, A Soldier's Story
Private Richard Paul Montag was born on August 1, 1921, in Houston, Texas. During his childhood, his family relocated to Oklahoma, where he attended school in Cherokee. Like many young men of his generation, he moved frequently in search of work and opportunity during the years leading up to World War II.
After completing school, Montag settled in Ogden, Utah, where he was employed as a driver for the Cole Transfer and Storage Company. As the war intensified and the demand for manpower increased, he chose to enlist.
On June 14, 1944, Montag enlisted in the United States Army in response to World War II. He was assigned to the 169th Infantry Regiment and deployed to the Pacific Theater, serving on Luzon, the Philippines—an area of heavy fighting during the final campaigns against Japanese forces.
On April 15, 1945, Private Richard Paul Montag died while in service from hepatitis, a disease that claimed many lives in wartime conditions, particularly in tropical environments. He was 23 years old.
Private Montag is buried at Fayetteville National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He is remembered as one of the many young Americans who served far from home during World War II, whose sacrifice reflects not only the dangers of combat but the harsh realities of war itself.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
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