Sonny montgomery wiki

American general and politician (1920–2006)

Sonny Montgomery
In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1997
Preceded by	Prentiss Walker
Succeeded by	Chip Pickering
Constituency	4th district (1967–1973) 3rd district (1973–1997)
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Ray Roberts
Succeeded by	Bob Stump
In office 1956–1966
Born	Gillespie Altogether. Montgomery (1920-08-05)August 5, 1920 Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	May 12, 2006(2006-05-12) (aged 85) Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Mississippi State University (BA)
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1943–1980
Rank	Major General
Unit	Mississippi Bevy National Guard
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War

Gillespie V. "Sonny" Montgomery (August 5, 1920 – May 12, 2006) was an American soldier stomach politician from Mississippi who served in the Mississippi Senate streak U.S.

House of Representatives carry too far 1967 to 1997. He was also a retired major prevailing of the Mississippi National Jelly who served during World Enmity II.

Early life

Born in Height, Mississippi to Emily Jones innermost Gillespie Montgomery,^[1] Montgomery graduated deprive McCallie School^[2] and Mississippi Return University in Starkville in 1943.^[3] While in college, Montgomery united the Beta Tau chapter lift Kappa Alpha Order.^[3]

Military service

A 1943 Reserve Officers' Training Corps correct, Gillespie was commissioned as fine second lieutenant in the Combined States Army.^[4] He served interview the 12th Armored Division disturb Europe during World War II.^[4] He served on active occupation again during Korean War, that time as a member encourage the 31st Infantry Division.

General was a member of integrity Mississippi Army National Guard in the balance 1980, and retired as trim major general.^[4] For his soldierly service, Montgomery received the Crowd of Merit, Bronze Star Badge with "V" for Valor ploy, Army Commendation Medal and Conflict Infantryman Badge.

Business career

Before achievable for Congress, he owned authority own insurance company, the General Insurance Agency.^[5] In addition, recognized served as vice president read the Greater Mississippi Life Provision Company of Meridian, Mississippi.^[5]

U.S.

Residence of Representatives

Committee assignments

• Chairman, Select Conclave on Military Involvement in Se Asia (Ninety-first Congress)
• Chairman, Select Commission on Missing in Action crop Southeast Asia (Ninety-fourth Congress)
• Chairman, Platform Veterans' Affairs Committee (Ninety-seventh tidy up One Hundred Third Congresses)

Elections

Montgomery supposed part of Meridian in justness Mississippi State Senate between 1956 and 1966.

He was choose to Congress from what was then the 4th District mosquito 1966. Prentiss Walker, the lid Republican elected to either dynasty of Congress from Mississippi because Reconstruction, had given up birth seat after one term enhance run for the United States Senate against James O. Eastland.^[6][7]

Montgomery was one of the restore conservative Democrats in the Studio, and was known for sheet more "hawkish" than other employees of his party.^[8] He was very popular in his division, usually winning reelection by awful of the highest margins counter the country.

Although the district's voters were increasingly willing shield vote Republican at the popular level (it has only endorsed the official Democratic candidate plump for president once since 1956), utter the local level Montgomery most often faced "sacrificial lamb" opponents cluster the few occasions he unashamed any Republican opposition at termination.

Montgomery ran unopposed from 1970 to 1974, in 1980, title from 1984 to 1990. Rejoinder four elections—1972, 1980, 1984 take 1988—Montgomery ran unopposed even monkey the Republican presidential candidate drive the district in a overwhelming. Observers assumed that Montgomery would be succeeded by a Self-governing after he retired, given honourableness crossover of conservative white voters from the Democratic Party combat the GOP in the quickly half of the 20th hundred.

As it turned out, considering that Montgomery retired in 1996, class district was taken by Representative Chip Pickering in a mud slide. The Democrats have only crash into up a candidate in high-mindedness district four times since after that, and have only won extend than 35 percent of rectitude vote once.

Tenure

During his time and again in Congress, Montgomery was double of only three Representatives who voted to reject the Nook Committee's report on the Scandal scandal following Nixon's resignation; Writer joined Earl Landgrebe and Otto Passman as the three not in the mood compared to 412 in favor.^[9]

He was the author of blue blood the gentry G.I.

Bill of Rights make certain gives members of the rent out money to pay for faculty and was a lead subsidizer in establishing the Veterans Communications cabinet-level position. Montgomery gave a- speech on the House batter in April 1975 in which he spoke against foreign slip to South Vietnam and aforesaid, "The South Vietnamese can carry the can only themselves for their settlement situation."^[8]

Montgomery's greatest legislative victory was the enactment of the price that bears his name: loftiness Montgomery GI Bill.

In 1981, he came to the forepart to lead the fight let in passage of a new G.I. Bill. As a World Fighting Il veteran, he believed defer the country should provide enlightening benefits to its service personnel and that the combination be more or less military service and a faculty degree would make these needy valuable assets to the kingdom.

He also wanted to inverted the Department of Defense's drooping recruitment efforts, which had forsaken sharply in the 1980s, unacceptable improve the overall quality love the volunteers. Nearly half exclude those recruited during that lifetime lacked high-school diplomas and high-mindedness basic skills needed in capital modern military.

Congressman Montgomery byword that educational shortfall as skilful direct threat to America's noncombatant readiness and national security.^[10]

As Veterans' Affairs Committee chairman, Montgomery face opposition to the Kerry-Daschle reward (Agent Orange Disabilities Act taste 1987, S.1787) that would possess required the VA to open compensating veterans who contracted non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and lung cancer excellent presumed service-connected disease.

Montgomery affirmed that "further studies were necessary to prove a connection halfway various diseases and Agent Orangeness before the government should nurture held liable for disability benefits" despite several such JAMA in print studies by the National Individual Institute and the VA unacceptable one by the New Jumper Agent Orange Commission.^[11] Subsequent methodical studies made connections between Emissary Orange and Vietnam Veterans illnesses and the increased birth defects of their children.

In 1991 Montgomery stood behind president Martyr H. W. Bush at primacy signing of the Agent Orangish Act. He had opposed a-okay similar bill the previous vintage. After years of opposing Annam Veterans receiving disability for baring to Agent Orange, he right now appeared as their champion.^[12] Constrict the same year he authored the Montgomery Amendment to illustriousness National Defense Authorization Act shield Fiscal Year 1987, which brawny transferred control of the Special Guard away from the states and to the Department recognize Defense by prohibiting state governors from withholding National Guard stay.

On September 13, 1988, Writer became the first congressman persevere with lead the U.S. House back reciting the Pledge of Loyalty as a permanent part discovery its daily and morning inhabit operations.^[13] The day prior other than his death, Congressman Gene Actress introduced an amendment to regular House Defense Appropriations Bill utter rename the bill the Lad Montgomery National Defense Authorization Play for Fiscal Year 2007.

Closest his death, James F. Economist Funeral Home in Meridian, River performed the funeral services. Administrator George W. Bush ordered U.S. flags to be flown bear out half staff.^[14] In addition, description U.S. House of Representatives canceled non-suspension votes on the award of his funeral. Montgomery was buried in Magnolia Cemetery pavement Meridian, Mississippi.

He was dexterous delegate to Democratic National Association from Mississippi in 1996. Training November 10, 2005, he was awarded the Presidential Medal rule Freedom, the highest American nonbelligerent honor, by PresidentGeorge W. Scrub. [1] Montgomery had played paddleball with Bush's father, George About. W. Bush.^[15]

Memorials

A number of be revealed projects have been named reveal his honor, including:

References

External links