Jimmie Waters Monteith, Jr.

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War II

First Lieutenant Jimmie Waters Monteith, Jr. (1 July 1917 - 6 June 1944) was a U.S. Army officer who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions in World War II during the D-Day landings in Normandy, France.

Jimmie Waters Monteith Jr. was born on 1 July 1917 in Low Moor, VA. When he was nine years old, his family moved to Richmond, VA. After elementary school, he attended Thomas Jefferson High School, where he played a year each of varsity football and varsity basketball. Known in high school by the nickname "Punk," he graduated in 1937. He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI) for two years, 1937-39, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. While at VPI, he was a member of K Battery in the corps of cadets and the Richmond Sectional Club. He returned to Richmond at the end of his sophomore year and worked as a field representative for the Cabell Coal Company, where his father was vice president.

He was drafted into the Army in October 1941 and sent to Camp Croft, SC, for basic training. During basic training, he was promoted to Corporal and applied for officer training. He was accepted and sent to Fort Benning, GA. He completed the course in March 1942 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He was then transferred to Fort McClellan, AL, where he helped train the 15th Battalion. In February 1943, he was transferred into the 30th Division at Camp Blanding, FL, to begin training in preparation for shipment overseas to fight in the war. In April 1943 he was shipped to Algeria, where he joined the 1st Division (Big Red One). The division moved to Sicily in July 1943, and he received a field promotion to First Lieutenant during the campaign. The division moved to England in November 1943 to prepare for the Normandy invasion.

His heroic actions after landing on the beach near Colleville-sur-Mer, France, on 6 June 1944, earned him the Medal of Honor, posthumously.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Colleville-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer, France. 1st Lt. 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 2 tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent enemy artillery and machinegun fire. Completely exposed to the intense fire, 1st Lt. 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 1st Lt. Monteith and his unit and while leading the fight out of the situation, 1st Lt. Monteith was killed by enemy fire. The courage, gallantry, and intrepid leadership displayed by 1st Lt. Monteith is worthy of emulation.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

Honors

Camp Monteith is a U.S. military base located in Gnjilane, Kosovo, named in honor of Jimmie Monteith.

Monteith Hall at Virginia Tech was built in 1949 and named after alumnus First Lieutenant Jimmie W. Monteith, Jr.

Jimmie W. Monteith Jr. Amphitheater, Fort McClellan, AL

Jimmie W. Monteith Jr. Barracks, Furth, Germany

Jimmie W. Monteith Jr. Army Reserve Center, McGuire Veterans Administration Hospital

Death and Burial

First Lieutenant Jimmie Waters Monteith, Jr. was killed in action on D-Day, 6 June 1944. He is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Basse-Normandie, France. His grave can be found in Section I, Row 20, Grave 12.