Chief Warrant Officer Three William R. Monty, Jr. was born on 2 October 1960 in Albany, New York. He graduated from Maple Hill High School in 1978, volunteered for service in the U.S. Army in 1985, and became an Army Aviator in 1988. After serving two years at Fort Hood, Texas, he deployed to Southwest Asia with Delta Troop, 1-7th Air Cavalry, and participated in Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. After returning to Fort Hood, CW3 Monty attended the Aviation Safety Officer Course followed by three years of service at the Army’s premier warfighting center, the National Training Center, at Fort Irwin, California. He attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996. CW3 Monty joined the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in March 1996.

CW3 Monty’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (w/Numeral 2), Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Senior Army Aviator Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

CW3 Monty died on 7 March 1996 during a night training mission when his MH-47E Chinook helicopter, #465, crashed near Russellville, Kentucky.

CW3 Monty is survived by his wife, Katherine; daughter, Samantha; and son, William III. He is laid to rest in Schuylerville, New York, at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Section 7, Site 1019 and at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 60, group burial site 7812.