More detail on this person: Alfred Montrem was
born on April 30, 1935, in Schenectady, New York.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve on
January 20, 1953, and entered the Aviation Cadet
Program of the Air Force on April 10, 1957,
earning his commission as a 2d Lt and his pilot
wings on July 23, 1958. Lt Montrem next completed
Helicopter Pilot Training at Stead AFB, Nevada, in
March 1959, followed by service as a helicopter
pilot with the 7272nd Air Base Wing at Wheelus
AB, Libya, from April 1959 to April 1961. He
served as a helicopter pilot with the Lowrey
Technical Training Center at Lowry AFB, Colorado,
from May 1961 to August 1965, and then as an
instructor helicopter pilot with the 3637th Flying
Training Squadron and 3630th Flying Training Wing
at Sheppard AFB, Texas, from August 1965 to
September 1967. Capt Montrem next served as an
HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant pilot with
Detachment 2 of the 37th Aerospace Rescue and
Recovery Squadron (ARRS) at Udorn Royal Thai
AFB, Thailand, from September 1967 to March
1968, followed by service with the 40th ARRS at
Udorn from March to September 1968. He served as
an HH-53 pilot and instructor pilot with the 48th
ARRS at Eglin AFB, Florida, from September 1968
to February 1969, and then with the Aerospace
Rescue and Recovery Training Center at Eglin AFB
from February 1969 to December 1970. During this
time, Maj Montrem served as Copilot of the HH-53
"Apple One" during the Son Tay Raid, a clandestine
mission to rescue American Prisoners of War in
North Vietnam on November 21, 1970. His next
assignment was as an HH-53 pilot with the 44th
ARRS at Patrick AFB, Florida, from December
1970 to November 1971, followed by service as an
HH-53 pilot with the 67th ARRS at RAF
Woodbridge, England, from November 1971 to
November 1973, and later as Chief of the
Operations and Training Branch with the 41st
Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing at
McClellan AFB, California. His final assignment
was at McConnell AFB, Kansas, where he retired
from the Air Force on November 1, 1981. Alfred
Montrem died on September 6, 1994, and was
buried at the Florida National Cemetery in
Bushnell, Florida.
His 2nd Silver Star Citation reads:
Major Alfred C. Montrem distinguished himself by
gallantry in connection with military operations
against an armed enemy of the United States
during the Prisoner of War search and rescue
operation at Son Tay, North Vietnam, on 21
November 1970. On that date, Major Montrem, as a
pilot of a helicopter carrying part of the ground
rescue party, flew deep into the heart of enemy
territory in a bold night attempt to rescue
American Prisoners of War. Although exposed to
enemy ground fire which included numerous
surface-to-air missiles, Major Montrem
successfully penetrated these defenses. With
gunners laying down suppressive fire, the United
States Army Special Forces were placed in position
to assault the camp. With complete disregard for
his own safety, he maintained a position to
provide assistance and immediate evacuation upon
completion of the assault. The personal skill and
extreme courage displayed by Major Montrem in
this very hazardous rescue attempt contributed
immeasurably to the ultimate effectiveness and
tactical success of the mission. By his gallantry
and devotion to duty, Major Montrem has reflected
great credit upon himself and the United States
Air Force.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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