World War II
-
Fallen

Rugby, ND

County:
Pierce

Date of Loss:

Branch of Service:
Army

Rank:
Private

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent:
162nd Infantry Medical Corps

Medals and Honors:
Silver Star

Biography:

Private Richard Morris Monger Name included on the All Veterans Memorial State Capitol Grounds Bismarck North Dakota under the county of Pierce. Name included on the Pierce County Memorial Monument for WWII From Peirce County Tribune Obituary: Born in Rugby North Dakota on June 14, 1919 to Mr. and Mrs. Morris Alfred Monger. He attended the Rugby schools, graduating in 1937 from high school. On May 12, 1941 Richard was inducted into the army and assigned to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, witht hte 135th Infantry. After Pearl Harbor he was transferred to Galveston, Texas. Early in 1942 he was transferred to New York in the Medical Corps of the 162nd Infantry. His division was transferred to Australia, where they stayed about a year, then going to New Guinea. It was here on July 30, 1943 that Richard made the supreme sacrifice. Richard was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously given by order of the President by Henry L. Stimson, Sec. of War. On October 19, 1944 by direction of the president the CITATION given posthumously as follows: SILVER STAR "For gallantry in action at...,..., New Guinea on 30 July 1943." signed: J.A. ULIO, Major General, The Adjutant General. Returned to the U.S. for burial in the family plot. Escort from a U.S. Military base was Sgt. V.A.Montanich. Military Honors given by the Rugby American Legion Post No. 23 under the command of Johnny Tuff. From the Register of North Dakota Veterans WWII and Korea page 1014: MONGER, RICHARD M. SN 37 028 573; born Rugby, NDak 14 Jun 19; resident Pierce County, NDak; entered AUS Ft Snelling, Minn 6 May 41; served Asiatic Pacific Theater; KIA 30 Jul 43 New Guinea; PVT; buried in Block 1, Lot 122, Grave 1, Persilla Watts Cemetery, Rugby, NDak,