Monford Meier
Monford (Monty) Meier was born in Oxford, Nebraska on March 19, 1924 to Albert and Wilhemeine (Minnie) Meier. He had two brothers, Keith and Willard, and one sister Alberta. In 1926, the family moved to Arlington, Nebraska. In 1941, war broke out. All three brothers served in WWII. Monty would serve from December 11, 1942 through October 21, 1945.
Monty returned from the war in 1945 and worked in construction as a crane operator. He married Rosalynn Henderson in 1948 and the couple lived in Omaha, Nebraska. They had four children, Marlene, Charlene, Monford Jr, and Cynthia. Monty and Rosalynn divorced in 1972.
Monty moved to Plattsmouth, Nebraska and married Peggy Williams. The two have been together for 25 years and now live on ten acres. Monty and Peggy enjoy gardening and spending time outdoors with family and friends.
About the book
Memories of a 1st Infantry Soldier is the story through the eyes of a boy completing his teen years in a horrific war. Monford (Monty) Meier was a Nebraska farm boy just eighteen years old in 1941 when he enlisted in the army to fight in World War II. After his enlistment, he was chosen as a replacement soldier for the First Infantry and thereafter he was a mortar gunner for the division.
During the next thirty months, he would serve in Africa, Sicily, France, England, Belgium, and Germany. He would participate in the invasion of Sicily, the landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day and at the Battle of the Bulge.
Monty describes the war and its pain, the fear and death, but also of his friends and their good times, and all the brave young men he served with. Monty tells of the division's pet dog, "Fox Hole", who survived with the men landing at Omaha beach in a backpack. There were close calls, captured soldiers, snipers, and malaria. There was his first drink, visits into villages, and weekend passes with his buddies.
The Germans surrendered on May 7, 1945 and Monty came home to Nebraska in October of that year. For his service, he was awarded five Battle Stars, two Arrowheads, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Purple Heart and the Good Conduct Medal.