Chief Warrant Officer Four Michael P. Montgomery died 26 October 2009 when his MH-47G Chinook helicopter, #747, crashed while under enemy fire conducting military operations in western Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

CW4 Montgomery was born on 10 June 1973 and was a native of Redmond, Washington. He volunteered for Army service in October 1991. After serving four years in the Army National Guard as an enlisted Soldier, he was accepted into the Army Warrant Officer Program at Fort Rucker, Alabama, in 1995. Upon graduation from flight school in 1996, CW4 Montgomery was assigned to 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment at Camp Murray, Washington. While at Camp Murray, CW4 Montgomery served as an AH-1 Pilot, Oh-58 A/C Scout Pilot, ALSE Officer, Instructor Pilot, Counterdrug Pilot, Senior Instructor Pilot/Instrument Flight Examiner, and Standardization Instructor. In 2003, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment as the ALSE and Tactical Operations Officer. In October 2004, he was assigned to the Western Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (WAATS) in Arizona as a Senior Instructor Pilot and Instrument Flight Examiner.

After a successful assessment with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) in 2006, CW4 Montgomery was assigned as an Electronic Warfare Officer with 3rd Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. CW4 Montgomery earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 2002. He was a combat veteran with seven deployments, two in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and five in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

CW4 Montgomery was a graduate of the Warrant Officer Candidate School, Aviation Warrant Officer Basic Course, Aviation Warrant Officer Advanced Course, Aviation Tactical Operations Course, U. S. Air Force Survival Service Training Course, UH-60 Aviator Qualification Course, OH-58 and CH-47 Instructor Pilot Courses, Rotary Wing Instructor Flight Examiner Course, Aviation Safety Officers Course, Warrant Officer Orientation Course, Total Army Instructor Training Course, and the Action Officer Development Course.

CW4 Montgomery’s awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (w/1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (w/3 OLC), National Defense Service Medal (w/1 Bronze Service Star), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (w/Campaign Star) Iraqi Campaign Medal (w/Campaign Star), Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, and Senior Aviator Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal and Combat Action Badge.

CW4 Montgomery is survived by his wife, Anita and their son, Riley; his mother, Mary; and father, Mark. He is laid to rest in Redmond, Washington, at Cedar Lawns Memorial Park and also at Arlington National Cemetery Section 60, group burial Site 9522. Building #8012 at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, is dedicated in his honor as Montgomery Hall.