GREENSBURG, KY, USA U.S. Army SGT, BATTERY B, 1ST BN, 623D FA, (TF BAGHDAD), CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY BAGHDAD, IRAQ 07/03/2005
Kentucky National Guard Sergeant Ryan Jay Montgomery, 22, of Greensburg, Kentucky was killed on Sunday, July 3, 2005 in Iraq when his up-armored Humvee encountered an improvised explosive device while returning from a convoy escort mission near Baghdad. Two other Kentucky Guardsmen in the same vehicle were wounded.
At the time of his death, Sergeant Montgomery was assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery, based at Campbellsville, Kentucky. His unit mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in November and deployed to Iraq in January 2005. Sergeant Montgomery graduated from Green County High School and joined the military in September 2000 during his senior year of high school.
In a statement read by Major General Donald Storm, Kentucky’s adjutant general, his family said “Ryan Montgomery was killed in Iraq serving the country he loved. Ryan was proud of his unit and believed in what he was doing. He was loved by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.”
Ryan took part in about 130 missions while in Iraq, according to the Kentucky Guard. Major General Storm said Sergeant Montgomery’s brother, Specialist Bryan Montgomery, did not witness the fatal explosion.
Sergeant Montgomery is survived by his father, Raymond Jay Montgomery of Greensburg; mother, Patricia Cheryl Thompson Montgomery of Campbellsville, KY; stepmother, Sharon Lee Montgomery; brother Specialist Bryan Ray Montgomery also assigned to Ryan’s unit in Campbellsville; sister, Ashley Nichole Montgomery of Campbellsville; stepbrother, Grant Riggs of Indiana; fiancée, Jenny Whitlow of Munfordville, KY; grandparents, William Ottis Montgomery Sr. of Brandenburg, KY, and Edna Foley of Campbellsville; stepgrandparents, Marietta Montgomery of Brandenburg and Norman Skaggs of Greensburg;
His funeral service was held on Tuesday, July 12, 2005, in the gymnasium of Green County Middle School in Greensburg. His remains were buried with military honors in Montgomery Cemetery.