Lt. Jack C. Montgomery
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
A Cherokee from Oklahoma, and a First Lieutenant with the 45th Infantry Division Thunderbirds. On 22 February 1944, near Padiglione, Italy, Montgomery's rifle platoon was under fire by three echelons of enemy forces, when he single-handedly attacked all three positions, taking prisoners in the process. As a result of his courage, Montgomery's actions demoralized the enemy and inspired his men to defeat the Axis troops.
Two hours before daybreak a strong force of enemy infantry established themselves in 3 echelons at 50 yards, 100 yards, and 300 yards, respectively, in front of the rifle platoons commanded by 1st Lt. Montgomery. The closest position, consisting of 4 machineguns and 1 mortar, threatened the immediate security of the platoon position. Seizing an Ml rifle and several hand grenades, 1st Lt. Montgomery crawled up a ditch to within hand grenade range of the enemy. Then climbing boldly onto a little mound, he fired his rifle and threw his grenades so accurately that he killed 8 of the enemy and captured the remaining 4.
Returning to his platoon, he called for artillery fire on a house, in and around which he suspected that the majority of the enemy had entrenched themselves. Arming himself with a carbine, he proceeded along the shallow ditch, as withering fire from the riflemen and machinegunners in the second position was concentrated on him. He attacked this position with such fury that 7 of the enemy surrendered to him, and both machineguns were silenced. Three German dead were found in the vicinity later that morning.
1st Lt. Montgomery continued boldly toward the house, 300 yards from his platoon position. It was now daylight, and the enemy observation was excellent across the flat open terrain which led to 1st Lt. Montgomery's objective. When the artillery barrage had lifted, 1st Lt. Montgomery ran fearlessly toward the strongly defended position.
As the enemy started streaming out of the house, 1st Lt. Montgomery, unafraid of treacherous snipers, exposed himself daringly to assemble the surrendering enemy and send them to the rear.
His fearless, aggressive, and intrepid actions that morning, accounted for a total of 11 enemy dead, 32 prisoners, and an unknown number of wounded. That night, while aiding an adjacent unit to repulse a counterattack, he was struck by mortar fragments and seriously wounded. The selflessness and courage exhibited by 1st Lt. Montgomery in alone attacking 3 strong enemy positions inspired his men to a degree beyond estimation.
Information obtained from MedalOfHonor.com
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Quotes
"I guess these old people, our great ancestor people, they said that one day you will forget all your religion and your culture and all that...If we forget all about our culture and religion, we have nowhere to go, we don't know how to pray, we don't know how to use our corn pollen, corn meal, anything that we pray with, we forget all about that.
Before that happens, we'd better do something." -
Jimmy Toddy, Navajo
Before that happens, we'd better do something." -
Jimmy Toddy, Navajo
Soldier highlights problems in U.S. Army
Posted: May 25, 2007
by: Gale Courey Toensing / Indian Country Today
FORT CARSON, Colo. - Army Spc. Ryan LeCompte, Lower Brule Sioux, was admitted to a Veterans Affairs hospital in mid-May to be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder after an ordeal that included allegations of racist slurs and medical neglect by the military.
LeCompte, 27, who served two tours in Iraq as part of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and Fort Carson, where he is based, are part of an ongoing investigation by the General Accounting Office into the mental health care services provided by the Defense Department.
The GAO is an independent, nonpartisan watchdog agency that works for Congress and studies the programs and expenditures of the federal government.
''We will be doing a site visit to Fort Carson among other military installations,'' Marcia Crosse, GAO's director of health issues, said. A report is not expected before next year.
On May 14 and 15, a group of senators sent staff members to Fort Carson on a fact-finding mission on allegations that military officials were downplaying soldiers' mental health problems or trying to get soldiers with mental problems discharged without benefits.
The hearings were prompted by complaints from LeCompte's wife, Tammie, and the Veterans of America, who have advocated for LeCompte and other soldiers at Fort Carson and across the country.
Click here to read the full article: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415081
by: Gale Courey Toensing / Indian Country Today
FORT CARSON, Colo. - Army Spc. Ryan LeCompte, Lower Brule Sioux, was admitted to a Veterans Affairs hospital in mid-May to be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder after an ordeal that included allegations of racist slurs and medical neglect by the military.
LeCompte, 27, who served two tours in Iraq as part of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and Fort Carson, where he is based, are part of an ongoing investigation by the General Accounting Office into the mental health care services provided by the Defense Department.
The GAO is an independent, nonpartisan watchdog agency that works for Congress and studies the programs and expenditures of the federal government.
''We will be doing a site visit to Fort Carson among other military installations,'' Marcia Crosse, GAO's director of health issues, said. A report is not expected before next year.
On May 14 and 15, a group of senators sent staff members to Fort Carson on a fact-finding mission on allegations that military officials were downplaying soldiers' mental health problems or trying to get soldiers with mental problems discharged without benefits.
The hearings were prompted by complaints from LeCompte's wife, Tammie, and the Veterans of America, who have advocated for LeCompte and other soldiers at Fort Carson and across the country.
Click here to read the full article: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415081
The Miami Nation presents a “Sneak Preview” of an upcoming PBS Documentary Maria Tallchief
by Sandra and Yasu Osawa
America’s first Prima Ballerina, Maria Tallchief, is the subject of a soon to be aired PBS documentary by Sandra and Yasu Osawa that will be previewed on Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 4 p.m. at the Coleman Theatre, Miami, Oklahoma. The screening, by the award winning filmmakers, is part of this year’s Miami National Gathering Week festivities. A brief talk-back with the filmmakers will be included.
This documentary is the third in a trilogy of films that highlights contemporary American Indian themes, issues and people by the Seattle based Upstream Productions. In this film, Ms. Tallchief tells her own story accompanied by dance clips, interviews with colleagues and historians and archival photos. Explained Sandra Osawa, a Makah filmmaker, “There are no contemporary stories about Native American women on PBS, the myriad of other television stations or on the big screen. For us, as American Indian women, Pocahontas is as good as it gets. This documentary aims to change the perpetual image of Indian women from one of ‘beast of burden’ or ‘romantic princess’ to one which will highlight a truly inspirational life—one filled with integrity and passion for the arts.”
Osawa’s film explains that in the late 1940’s, Tallchief ushered in a new prototype of the ballerina that was distinctly American, in a ballet world that was dominated by the Russians, the French and the English. All that changed in 1948 when Ms. Tallchief took the stage to capture the critical NY audience in a new ballet called Orpheus. Author Francis Mason, who is featured in the film exclaimed, “Maria Tallchief lit a fire under classical ballet that is still burning.”
The filmmaking team of Sandra and Yasu Osawa has brought 4 films to the PBS television audience and their films are being used in college classrooms across the country. The team is also currently working with the Miami Nation in Oklahoma to document the tribe’s language program. (The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Office of Cultural Preservation is hosting this event to extend an opportunity to Miami Tribal citizens to view the Osawa’s work in light of their current project documenting the myaamia language revitalization effort.)The event is free but tickets are required at the door.
America’s first Prima Ballerina, Maria Tallchief, is the subject of a soon to be aired PBS documentary by Sandra and Yasu Osawa that will be previewed on Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 4 p.m. at the Coleman Theatre, Miami, Oklahoma. The screening, by the award winning filmmakers, is part of this year’s Miami National Gathering Week festivities. A brief talk-back with the filmmakers will be included.
This documentary is the third in a trilogy of films that highlights contemporary American Indian themes, issues and people by the Seattle based Upstream Productions. In this film, Ms. Tallchief tells her own story accompanied by dance clips, interviews with colleagues and historians and archival photos. Explained Sandra Osawa, a Makah filmmaker, “There are no contemporary stories about Native American women on PBS, the myriad of other television stations or on the big screen. For us, as American Indian women, Pocahontas is as good as it gets. This documentary aims to change the perpetual image of Indian women from one of ‘beast of burden’ or ‘romantic princess’ to one which will highlight a truly inspirational life—one filled with integrity and passion for the arts.”
Osawa’s film explains that in the late 1940’s, Tallchief ushered in a new prototype of the ballerina that was distinctly American, in a ballet world that was dominated by the Russians, the French and the English. All that changed in 1948 when Ms. Tallchief took the stage to capture the critical NY audience in a new ballet called Orpheus. Author Francis Mason, who is featured in the film exclaimed, “Maria Tallchief lit a fire under classical ballet that is still burning.”
The filmmaking team of Sandra and Yasu Osawa has brought 4 films to the PBS television audience and their films are being used in college classrooms across the country. The team is also currently working with the Miami Nation in Oklahoma to document the tribe’s language program. (The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Office of Cultural Preservation is hosting this event to extend an opportunity to Miami Tribal citizens to view the Osawa’s work in light of their current project documenting the myaamia language revitalization effort.)The event is free but tickets are required at the door.
Tribal leaders honor first Blackfeet to become a Marine officer
Two weeks after earning his Eagle, Globe and Anchor and being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, Cicero Running Crane, a Blackfeet tribal member, was given another symbol of an eagle — a feather passed through his family, in honor of him becoming the tribe’s first Marine officer.
Running Crane, 23, was born in Great Falls and raised in Billings, graduating in 2002 from Skyview High School. He then went on to the University of Colorado, where he joined the Marine Corps ROTC program and graduated May 11 with a degree in molecular, cellular and developmental biology.
On Saturday, he was honored by his friends, family, tribal leaders and the Blackfeet Warriors Society, which determined through research that Running Crane is the tribe’s first Marine lieutenant.
“You’re among the highly ranked warriors from our reservation,” Keith Heavy Runner of the Warriors Society told Running Crane. “You’re right at the top, sir.”
In honoring Running Crane, tribal members sang traditional songs including the Warrior Song and Flag Song.
Click here to read more: http://www.nativebiz.com/community/News,op=visit,nid=15530.html
Running Crane, 23, was born in Great Falls and raised in Billings, graduating in 2002 from Skyview High School. He then went on to the University of Colorado, where he joined the Marine Corps ROTC program and graduated May 11 with a degree in molecular, cellular and developmental biology.
On Saturday, he was honored by his friends, family, tribal leaders and the Blackfeet Warriors Society, which determined through research that Running Crane is the tribe’s first Marine lieutenant.
“You’re among the highly ranked warriors from our reservation,” Keith Heavy Runner of the Warriors Society told Running Crane. “You’re right at the top, sir.”
In honoring Running Crane, tribal members sang traditional songs including the Warrior Song and Flag Song.
Click here to read more: http://www.nativebiz.com/community/News,op=visit,nid=15530.html
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