Jimmie W Monteith Jr

Jimmie W Monteith Jr was born on the 1st of July, 1917 in Low Moor, Virginia. He graduated high school in 1937 and went on to, what is now known as, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and majored in mechanical engineering. While there, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Richmond Sectional Club. After his sophomore year, he went home to Richmond to work as a field representative for the Cabell Coal Company. He was then drafted into the US Army in October of 1941 and attended basic training at Camp Croft, South Carolina. While in basic training, Jimmie was promoted to corporal and applied for officer training. Once accepted, he went to Fort Benning, Georgia and completed the course in March of 1942. Upon completion, he was promoted to second lieutenant and was transferred to Fort McClellan, Alabama where he would help train. In February of 1943, Jimmie was again transferred but this time to Camp Blanding, Florida and into the 30th Division. Here he would prepare to deploy to Europe. After being in Algeria, Sicily, and then England, he was then part of the Normandy invasion on D-Day. It was on the 6th of June, 1944 that First Lieutenant Monteith lost his life and earned the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, while serving with 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action near Colleville-sur-Mer, France. First 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 assault. He then 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 field to the beach, he moved over to where two tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent enemy artillery and machinegun fire. Completely exposed to the intense fire, First Lieutenant Monteith led the tanks on foot through a minefield 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 his newly won position against repeated vicious counterattacks, he continued to ignore his own personal safety, repeatedly crossing the 200 or 300 yards of open terrain under heavy fire to strengthen links in his defensive chain. When the enemy succeeded in completely surrounding First Lieutenant Monteith and his unit and while leading the fight out of the situation, First Lieutenant Monteith was killed by enemy fire. The courage, gallantry, and intrepid leadership displayed by First Lieutenant Monteith is worthy of emulation.

 Jimmie W Monteith Jr is buried at the American cemetery in Normandy, France, section I, row 20, grave 12. He also has several honors dedicated in his name; Monteith Hall at Virginia Tech and Camp Monteith in Kosovo are just two, as well as being one of 471 medal of Honor recipients from WW2.