Who is Montgomery?

  • Published
  • By Airman John Day
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
1/15/2015 - COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- --  (Editor's note: This is the first article in a continuation of a 2014 series on the memorializations on Columbus Air Force Base.)

Here at Columbus Air Force Base, many buildings, hangars and streets are dedicated to important figures in Mississippi history. These individuals have been an important part of the base, often having been stationed here, or being deeply involved in the community.

On Jan. 15, 1999, the enlisted Airman dormitories were dedicated in honor of Gillespie "Sonny" Montgomery.

Montgomery commissioned in the U.S Army after graduating from Mississippi State University in 1943. He served in World War II and the Korean Conflict where he earned the Bronze Star for Valor, a Legion of Merit and a Combat Infantry Badge. 35 years later, he retired from the Mississippi National Guard as a major general.

Montgomery opened an insurance business in Meridian, Mississippi, and was shortly after voted to the state Senate. His next step up came in 1966 when he was elected the U.S. Congress.

He spent the next 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives fighting for veteran rights and improving military funding.  He established an education bill that provides education benefits for active duty, National Guard and Reserve members. It was named the Montgomery GI Bill in his honor.

In 1995, Montgomery was awarded the highest civilian award given by the Pentagon, the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Service. He also earned the Congressional Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Distinguished Service Award from the American Legion, the Silver Helmet Congressional Award and the National Guard's highest honor, the Harry S. Truman Award.

Former 14th Flying Training Wing Commander, retired Col. Michael G. Lee, also named the congressman and retired soldier as a Columbus Wingman in 1996.

After retiring from politics in 1997, Montgomery opened a lobbying firm called the Montgomery Group, where he worked on defense, veterans, and health care issues. He retired in 2004 and returned to Mississippi.

For his efforts to strengthen the Reserve and Air National Guard unit in Mississippi, a
C-17 Globemaster was named the "Spirit of G.V. 'Sonny' Montgomery" in his honor.

In 2005, at the White House, President George Bush awarded Montgomery the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

On May 12, 2006, Montgomery passed away due to natural causes. Though he has passed on, to all military members, he is remembered as the father of the GI Bill.