Lt. Col. Paul Bruce Montague USMC (Ret.) 1924 - 2006

Lt. Col Paul Bruce Montague USMC (Ret.) died from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006 in a San Antonio Hospital.

He was born at the Montague Ranch in Bandera, Texas on Aug. 18, 1924, to Frank Michael and Ouida McCarthy Montague. As a member of one of Bandera’s Pioneer ranching families, Bruce began his ranching duties at a young age. It was in these childhood years, that he was taught the art of fancy trick roping by the Mexican vaqueros that worked on the ranch. This became a lifelong pastime that he shared with thousands of people all over the world. Entertaining others was encouraged by his parents, by forming a musical group with his brothers Frank, Charlie, and George that would play at rallies all over Texas. Bruce grew up a member of the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Grade School in Bandera.

After graduating from Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, Texas, he was drafted at the age of eighteen, and chose the United States Marine Corp to serve his country. After boot camp, Bruce received “high man” honors at ordinance school in Norman, OK. He then would serve as an air gunner in World War II and Post-War China. During the Korean War, Bruce flew 147 combat missions with Marine Fighter Squadron 311. It was during this conflict, he had the responsibility of leading Hall of Fame Boston Red Sox, Ted Williams and John Glenn (first man to orbit the earth) on their first combat missions. In addition to flying missions, he was involved in ground combat as a forward air controller. He received the bronze star for directing more strikes than any other Marine Controller. On one occasion he directed 48 air strikes within a 48-hour period.

After Korea, Bruce attended Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. He then served as a test pilot at the Naval Air Test Center and at the Naval Ordinance Test Station where he tested air weaponry.

In Vietnam, he flew 188 Combat Missions against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong.

During this time he was Commanding Officer of Marine Fighter Squadron 122 flying F-4 Phantom Jets. He also served as Executive Flight Officer of Marine Fighter Squadron 114, assigned to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Air Craft Carrier.

In all, Lt. Col Montague was awarded 23 air medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross (the highest honor for a pilot) for heroic actions in Korea. He retired honorably on October 31, 1969.

Having received a Business Administration Degree from St. Mary’s University, Bruce then pursued a career in Real Estate as a land broker in Bandera for 30 years. He was also a member of First Baptist Church Bandera. He took particular delight in entertaining children with his trick roping at schools, festivals, and community events. He was an inaugural performer at the Texas Folklife Festival where he participated for more than 21 years.

Bruce loved roping, flying, and spending time with his family. Many of his dare devil airplane antics and tricks are ingrained in local legend, such as buzzing Main Street and other Bandera landmarks.

In his last years, Bruce dedicated much of his time as a board member of the San Antonio State School, serving in all the different officer capacities. He also spent a great deal of time writing a military memoir with his son Bruce, Jr., titled The Hook .

He is preceded in death by daughter, Regina Maria Montague, parents, Frank and Ouida McCarthy Montague, brothers, Frank Montague, Jr. and Charles Montague.

In addition to his wife Anna Garcia Montague, survivors include children, Dr. Bruce Montague of Santa Cruz, Calif., Dr. Katherine Montague Rowley and husband Dr. Richard Rowley of Castelton, N.Y., Lytle Stephen Montague of San Antonio, Texas, Armella Grainger and husband Charles Grainger of Goode, Va., Sheila Montague of Goode, Va., Jason Gilbert Carlos Arredondo and wife Susan Marie Arredondo of College Station, Texas, Dr. Paul Raymond Montague and wife Dr. Melinda Marie Montague of Vernon, Conn., Cyrus Coleman Montague of Bandera, Texas, brother Reverend Dr. George Thomas Montague S.M., Ph.D. of San Antonio, Texas, and Sister-In-Law Virginia Gowen Montague of Bandera, Texas. He is survived by twelve grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The pallbearers are Gene Fee, Roger Garza, Jaime Gutierrez, Raegan Mazurek, Frank “Bubba” Montague, III, Joseph William Montague, 5th Special Forces DELTA Team, and Colonel Nicholas Vay, 7th Special Forces Group DELTA.

Memorial donations can be made to the Regina Montague Memorial Fund. The Address is Express News Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 2171, San Antonio, Texas 78297. Donations will benefit the San Antonio Association of Women Journalists.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006, from 4-6 p.m.

Funeral Services are scheduled for Monday, Feb. 13, 2006, at 11 a.m., at Grimes Funeral Chapel in Bandera with Bro. Louis Vannatter and Father George Montague officiating. You are invited to send condolences at www.grimesfuneralchapels.com by selecting the “Send Condolences” link. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapel of Bandera.