Major Ray Montgomery

Ray Montgomery (“Bucky Boy”) was born at home on Wabash Avenue in Detroit, Michigan on 22 September 1919. Proud parents were Daniel Paul Montgomery and Julia VanZandt Montgomery. Home births were the norm and he was simply “Bucky Boy” until he was named “Ray” with no middle name or initial when he started school. He never had a birth certificate and never had a need for one until 2007 at age 87. He applied for one indicating that he might “possibly need (it) to renew (his) drivers license.” Ray enlisted in the Army at age 19 with his mother's signature as “proof of citizenship.” Once enlisted he never needed documentation since he always had a military ID.

Ray was born the year that the Paris Peace Conference and Treaty of Versailles were being hotly debated in an attempt to bring a resolution to “the war to end all wars” (WWI) even though Germany had signed an armistice the prior 11 November 1918 (now Veterans Day for all Americans). President Woodrow Wilson had proposed a controversial “League of Nations” and the Senate would not approve the treaty. In September, the month Ray was born, General Pershing brought the last 25,000 American dough-boys home from Europe.

Bucky Boy was the second born of four children and the only son. His older sister, Clair Louise, born 15 April 1918 died 16 April 1921 (age 3 years 1 day). His younger twin sisters, Hazel and Helen, were born 10 February 1929. The twins preceded Ray in death (Hazel O'Gorman, USN, on 6 March 1994 and Helen Bernard Snyder on 18 March 2008).

During the trying, poor economic times of the early 20th century, the family moved to Idaho where Ray and his sisters lived and worked on the farm and attended elementary and secondary school in Melba, Idaho. Ray graduated from Melba High School in 1937. His Senior year book, “the Butte,” stated that he “simply loves to study.” No surprise that he would one day be an engineer in the USA Corps of Engineers.

During and after high school Buck worked hard on the family dairy farm and at neighboring farms and ranches breaking horses, bailing hay, building (carpentry) and “simply doing any job” that provided support for the family. Just two years after graduation Ray enlisted in the United States Army on 16 May 1939 just as hostilities once again erupted in Europe. Before hostilities spread to the Pacific Ray moved quickly from “Bucky, the private to Buck, the Buck Sargent.” When concerns grew about a possible invasion through the Aleutians, Alaska, and Canada, the initial defense preparations included a road that became known as the ALCAN Highway. Buck was the lead surveyor. His expert shooting, farm and ranch skills came in handy when he used the unit's only rifle to obtain food when rations ran out and they were far ahead of the supply line. As the next war to end wars began he received additional training and was soon commissioned as a First Lieutenant. Before attending OCS (Officer Candidate School) he had leave and gave a Tech Sargent (another Ray) a ride home. Raymond G. Cash introduced him to that pretty girl playing the organ and singing in the parlor, his sister Miss Evelyn Cash. Before he left for duty in the southwest Pacific Theater, Miss Cash became Mrs. Evelyn Cash Montgomery on 7 February 1943. The marriage would last for 62 years and produce four children, eight grandchildren Amy (Thad) Elizabeth Fuller Stenger, Jonathan (Heidi) Adam Fuller, Zachariah Ome Untiedt, Hannah Faye Untiedt, Jill Montgomery, Lara Montgomery, Kristina Lynn Sharp, and John William Wathen and five great-grandchildren Casey Elizabeth Stenger, Gerald Cole Stenger, Jonah Adam Fuller, Clara Mae Fuller and Callie Rose Sharp.

Ray, along with all four of Evelyn's brothers, served throughout WWII in the USArmy. Ray continued his USArmy service until 1 August 1960 (over 20 years of service). He received the following decorations and citations: Asiatic Pacific Ribbon W/3 Bronze Stars, Dist Unit Badge WD GO 18 15 Apr 43, Philippine Liberation Ribbon W/1 Bronze Star per WD Cir 195/44, Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal.

His assignments took him to Canada, Alaska (before it was the 49th state), Australia (where he said he “owns 1 square foot of Australia” like many WWII veterans), New Guinea, Netherlands, East Indies, Philippine Islands, Japan, France and, of course, numerous stations in the “continental United States” including 29th Engineers (Topographical), Portland, Oregon; Fort DuPont, Delaware; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Chief of Engineers Office, Columbus, Ohio; and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Life wasn't only about the military for Ray. Family was also important to him and Evelyn. In the war years Evelyn was often the sole parent on the home front. Linda Rae (Don Fuller) was the first to join the young Montgomery family although she would not see Daddy until she was two years old. She was born on Thanksgiving Day, and Ray, serving in the Pacific Theater (New Guinea), found out he was the proud father of a little girl on Christmas Day. After the Great War and the family back together the family got much larger: first Daniel Phillip (Chris) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia before a family stint in Japan; then Donna Marie (Mike Untiedt) in Columbus, Ohio prior to family service in France; then Susan Elaine (John Wathen) upon retirement and relocation to Colorado.

Following “military retirement” in 1960 at Fort Leonard Wood, Ray and Evelyn were planning to relocate to California. A stop-over in the Denver area to visit military friends resulted in a change in plans. While in the area Ray was offered an engineering position at Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin) which he accepted. He worked there through completion of one of the early space projects. Then he worked for a brief time for the Aurora Public Schools before accepting a new challenge at the Air Force Accounting and Finance Center located at Lowry Air Force Base. The family settled close to Fitzsimons Army Medical Center and Lowry AFB where the children could “stay put” and finish school and where many of their military friends resided and military services were available. As Ray and Evelyn became “empty nesters” they moved to Windsor Gardens and then to Dayton Place in Denver. After the loss of his beloved Evelyn and following some health issues, Ray spent the last three years at Colorado State Veterans Home-Fitzsimons in Aurora.

As a resident at CSVH-Fitz, he was simply “Ray” (as the license plate on the back of his power chair alerted the world). He remained active until recent months. He was an avid Rockies fan who made certain that televised games were available for all to see and hear. He delivered resident mail, served on the residents' council representing the Eagle Wing, presented resident complaints (ombudsman), and played bingo and poker ( a frequent winner). He read the Rocky Mountain News (then Denver Post) and Our Daily Bread religiously right after an early morning breakfast (usually before the dining rooms opened). Ray celebrated his 91st birthday with family and friends on 22 September 2010 and five days later, on 27 September 2010, Ray Montgomery joined an eternal army.

Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary & Cemetery, Littleton, CO.