World War II
Post-graduation, Montgomery spent a year teaching at a vocational agriculture school in Dekalb, Texas. On May 28, 1941, he joined the United States Army Corps of Engineers and served until 1945. Within six months of enlisting as a private he was promoted to First Sergeant.
When World War II began, thousands of Black Americans rushed to enlist and serve a nation that had denied them basic rights and limited their freedom. Despite segregation, more than one million Black servicemembers took part in World War II. After the war, many veterans returned to lives as second-class citizens with hopes and determination for a more equal future.
Excerpt from letter:
"From time to time I run across men in this camp who stand out above others in their intelligence, courtesy, and high principled conduct. First Sergeant Montgomery, of your unit, appears to me to be just such a soldier and I wanted to let you know that I have always found it a pleasure to work with him."
Letter from Post Chaplain Harold O. Bomhoff to 34th Battalion Commanding Officer. February 12, 1942. Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives.
How does Post Chaplain Harold O. Bomhoff describe Montgomery in this 1942 letter?
Image 1: Fort Leonard Wood front gate, located in the south central Missouri Ozarks, 1941. Courtesy U.S. Army.
Image 2: Fort Leonard Wood barracks, 1941. Courtesy U.S. Army.