VA Hospital in Muskogee to be First Named for Native American
Submitted by Matt Davison
10 October 2006
Jack C. Montgomery 
Photo credit: medalofhonor.com

On 30 November, the Muskogee VA Medical Center in Oklahoma will be renamed after the late World War II hero and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Jack C. Montgomery. 

The hospital will be the first VA facility named for a Native American. 

Montgomery served as first lieutenant in the Army’s 45th Infantry Division. On 22 February 1944, in Italy, he single- handedly attacked three strong enemy positions that threatened the rifle platoons under his command. His action resulted in 11enemy deaths and the capture of 32 prisoners.

He was seriously wounded later that night while supporting a unit fighting near his. 

   
In addition to the Congressional Medal, Montgomery was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart with Cluster. 

After his release from the Army following the war, Montgomery had a long career as a VA employee at the Muskogee hospital. Following his retirement, he served as a volunteer at the medical center. 

Dr. Robert Lynch, director of Veterans Integrated Service Network 16 (which includes Muskogee), will be the keynote speaker at the renaming ceremony. Other special guests will include Congressman Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma, 2nd District), Senator Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), Cherokee Nation Chief Chad Smith, and Montgomery’s widow Joyce.

    
Reprinted as an historical reference document under the Fair Use doctrine of international copyright law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html