<p>
“From these gray walls, a thousand heroes sprung<br />
Have trod the field of Mars, <br />
These battlements<br />
That frown upon the plain, to ancient wars<br />
Have sacrificed the bravest of their sons.”</p>
<p>
Lieutenant Colonel <em>Hampden Eugene Montgomery</em> died in a Japanese prison camp on February 5, 1945, having been a prisoner of war of the Japanese Imperial Army since the American Flag was hauled down at the surrender of Corregidor, Philippine Islands.</p>
<p>
‘‘They too were men. They were the mortal sons <br />
Of fathers and of mothers whom they loved.”</p>
<p>
Monty was born September 12, 1902 at Georgetown, S.C., the son of Mr. Hampden E. Montgomery and Mrs. Mary S. Montgomery. His family moved to Kingstree, S.C., in January, 1905, in which town Monty lived the life of any small boy and young man of Southern heritage. In the Fall of 1919 he entered Presbyterian College and graduated therefrom in 1923 with first honors. For a year thereafter, he taught English in the high school in Kingstree. During this year he was given an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, which he entered as a Plebe on July 1, 1924.</p>
<p>
The anonymity of a Plebe is a West Point tradition but Monty soon became well-known to his classmates in spite of this tradition. Primarily, he had a keen sense of humor, a sympathetic and understanding approach to human character and a most pleasing personality. Sparkling eyes set in a somewhat chubby face reflected the mood of the individual gazing into them but somehow seemed always to fill one with a feeling that all was well—or at least could easily be. In other words, he had those qualities that made him easily approachable on a friendly basis and which make a young man of college age popular among his contemporaries. But Monty had other assets— namely, his athletic ability, his interest in athletics, and his better than normal scholastic ability. Above all, his sincerity, friendliness, dependability, personality and high morale were the assets which made other cadets seek his company. These traits were deep in his character, hence, they continued to make Monty popular wherever he happened to be. We all know how precious time is to the cadet, yet Monty always found time to lend a helping hand to some cadet activity or to devote to the classmate who might need a little academic coaching. Monty gave unstintingly and graciously.</p>
<p>
“They too had gazed on dancing, sparkling eyes<br />
And kissed the lips they loved.<br />
Their spirit moved to the harmonies that stir our souls today.<br />
They loved the shining waters, and the skies.<br />
The plains and rugged hills that were their home.”</p>
<p>
Monty graduated from West Point In June of 1928 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. He was stationed with the Eighth Infantry, serving at both posts—Fort Screven and Fort Moultrie. During the latter part of this period of two years, he met and subsequently married Miss Burness Dutart of Mount Pleasant. S. C. Shortly thereafter, the young couple were ordered to Hawaii for a two year tour of foreign duty. While on this tour of Foreign Service the first of two children was born, a boy who was named Charles Edward—better known as Ned.</p>
<p>
In 1939, Colonel Montgomery was ordered to the Philippine Islands. Although hostilities in Europe were headline items, no immediate peril was evident, so his family, now increased by a second child, a daughter named Jean, accompanied him to the new station. He was assigned to the 45th Infantry (P.S.) and, of course, was in that group of officers who were to remain on duty in Philippine stations for action against the Japanese. The family returned to the States along with other families brought back by the Government when open hostilities seemed probable.</p>
<p>
Tracing the actions of an individual after the opening move of the Japanese is most difficult. It is also difficult for any human to understand the thoughts, the hopes and the despondencies which must have engulfed the officers and men fighting that sacrificial action in the Philippine Islands. No one can understand who has not been through it, and the veteran of one campaign can only partially comprehend the action in another. For a while Monty was on General Wainwright’s staff in the Operations Section and was among those last survivors who were driven from Bataan to Corregidor before being completely engulfed by the heavily reinforced Japanese Army. During the action in Bataan, Monty was awarded the Silver Star by General Wainwright for unusual gallantry in action.</p>
<p>
The story of the hardships endured by these survivors of Corregidor is well known to all. Days on days of trying to eke out an existence on the meager rice diet provided by the Japanese captors took its toll. Scarcity of potable water added to the horrors of existence. The strong minds and physiques, the strong wills, withstood the shock. Monty not only managed to keep his own body and soul together but still had that characteristic energy and esprit which lifted him above the physical hardships. He realized that men who have lost hope soon lose life itself. For more than two years of prison existence he worked to keep up morale. He organized shows, took part in them, aided the sick and cheered the despondent. Some mother, some wife now has her loved one safely home because Monty had enough spirit to impart a share of it to his fellow prisoners. He survived a bombing by our planes of a Japanese ship on which he was being transported. As the American forces squeezed the Japanese out of the Philippines, able bodied prisoners were taken to Japan. Monty was among a group of about 100 who were taken to a prison camp in Moji, Japan (Fukuoka No. 3). There his high morale and humanitarian consideration for his fellow prisoners could not completely come to the fore because Monty had contracted a very bad cold while aboard ship enroute to Japan. In spite of this illness his spirit never lagged nor did even his most intimate friends realize the seriousness of his illness.</p>
<p>
“Now they have drunk the icy wine of death!<br />
Bravely they gave the life for which they yearned.<br />
And now their shades, on twilight pinions hung,<br />
Speed through the silent void of space, their flight.<br />
Wrapped in the sable shroud of endless night,<br />
While we are free!”</p>
<p>
The telling effect of this continued Japanese diet and inhuman treatment resulted in Monty’s death on February 5, 1945. The cause of death is officially recorded as acute enteritis but eye witnesses say that his cold soon developed into pneumonia; that he was given prison hospitalization on February 4 and that he died in the early morning hours of February 5th. The Japanese had succeeded in killing another American soldier—a very good soldier. They had not succeeded in killing a soul and a spirit. As we continue through this life Monty’s soul will be with those of us who have been privileged to know him and, may it please God, our souls again will meet with his in that Valhalla reserved for soldiers.</p>
<p>
“Oh, Thou, whose outstretched arm<br />
Gives us our life, to Thee we make a prayer<br />
When our time comes, when ringing call to arms<br />
Sends us headlong to that vague frontier.<br />
Give us the strength to pay the debt we owe,<br />
To rise in triumph above the tide of fear.<br />
When lightnings crash, and martial thunders roll,<br />
When the great deep shrinks from the blinding fires of Hell—<br />
Then give us nerve to face the blazing steel,<br />
To bear the battle like the men that were,<br />
May we fall like them, knowing we have done<br />
Our duty to our country and our home.”</p>
<p>
</p>