JIMMIE W. MONTEITH JR.
Description
First Lieutenant Jimmie W. Monteith, Jr., Infantry, Army of the United States was awarded our nation's highest award for valor. | MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944 near Colleville sur Mer, France. Lieutenant Monteith landed with the initial assault waves on the coast of France under heavy enemy fire. Without regard to his own personal safety he continually moved up and down the beach reorganizing men for further assauLieutenant He then personally led the assault over a narrow protective ledge and across the flat exposed terrain to the comparative safety of a cliff. Retracing his steps across the filed to the beach, he moved over to where two tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent enemy artillery and machine gun fire. Completely exposed to the intense fire Lieutenant Monteith led the tanks on foot through a mine field and into firing positions. Under his direction, several enemy positions were destroyed. He then rejoined his company and under his leadership his men captured an advantageous position on the hill. Supervising the defense of this newly won position against repeated vicious counterattacks, he continued to ignore his own personal safety, repeatedly crossing the two or three hundred yards of open terrain under heavy fire to strengthen links in his defensive chain. When the enemy succeeded in completely surrounding Lieutenant Monteith and his unit and while leading the fight out of this situation, Lieutenant Montieth was killed by enemy fire. The courage, gallantry and intrepid leadership displayed by Lieutenant Monteith are worthy of emulation.