Missing Lake City soldier honored with full military services

FLORENCE — Taps sounded for Pfc. James Charles Montgomery at Florence National Cemetery on Friday, 57 years after he went missing in action in North Korea.

The ceremony brought long-sought closure to the family of the Lake City native, who was presumed dead Dec. 31, 1953.

Montgomery was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was listed as missing in action while fighting the enemy near the Hwachon Reservoir in North Korea on Oct. 14, 1952.

A picture of Montgomery dressed in his military finest rested below a wall that contained plaques commemorating the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy.

The picture was placed behind a perfectly folded U S. flag. The flag was presented to Montgomery’s aunt and sister by Staff Sgt. Ivan Riveria, who headed an advanced infantry training team from Ft. Jackson that served as an honor guard.

“To God be the glory, I’ve waited on this day for 57 years,” said Montgomery’s aunt, Jessie Timmons of Lake City. “I prayed and prayed that this time would finally come.”

Timmons recalled Montgomery coming to her house when he was a youngster. He said he would wash the dishes if she would give him enough money to go to the movies.

She gave him the money and he washed the dishes in record time. She even thought anybody who could wash dishes that fast might deserve a little extra for the movies, but didn’t go that far.

“I turned the oven on after he left and the next thing I knew, smoke was everywhere,” she said. “He had dumped all the dishes into the stove. But that was my boy.”

Timmons thanked the honor guard and others for being present.

“God bless our troops for keeping this nation a free nation,” she said. “And God bless America.”

“I thank and praise the Lord for this day,” Montgomery’s sister, Betty Randall, said. “He was a wonderful brother. We never had an argument.

“We’ve waited so long for this day to happen. I know he’s looking down from heaven because he was saved. I thank the Army for what they have done. I thank all of you. This gives us closure, something we’ve wanted for so long.”

Montgomery’s classmates Carolyn Green McMillan and Ada Johnson Dicks attended Friday’s ceremony. Both said Montgomery was fun-loving and smiled all the time.

“Pfc. Montgomery was a good soldier,” said Florence County Veteran’s Affairs Director Rick Walden, who retired from the Army after 28 years as a sergeant major. “Not all soldiers receive the Purple Heart.”

Montgomery also received the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea Service Medal.

Cathy Thomas sang a solo during the service. Among the words were “When I get to heaven, I’m going to jump and shout.”

And Lake City Mayor Lovith Anderson Jr. paid tribute to the fallen soldier by reading a proclamation from the Lake City City Council.