Jimmie W. Montieth

Normandy American Cemetary and Memorial

The President of the United States

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

My name is Jimmie W. Montieth, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 16^th Infantry, 1^st Infantry Division, from Low Moor, Virginia. I left my family at an early age to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. I worked very hard to be the best leader that I could and to responsibly lead those men entrusted to me by their parents. For that experience I am eternally grateful and many of those men I led are my friends to this day. They are good men each and every one of them. We were talking one evening last week when a sudden sadness filled our souls.

We are far from home and while many Americans come to visit us, it is with great pride when the President of the United States takes time to visit. Bob Seyler and John Pinder perform the flag ceremony with precision and grace; Frank Peregory and Carlton Barrett drill all of us to ensure were in fine cadence; Teddy, Bob Cole and John Butts inspect our uniforms for that crisp crease in our trousers while Carlos Ogden, John Kelly, Art Defranzo, and Walt Ehlers make up our small band. We were all set for your visit, but you did not stop to see us. You did not come to inspect us as our Commander and Chief nor to acknowledge the hard work and sacrifice by all of us those years ago. You are the first President of the United States that did not come to visit us when you traveled to Europe.

We are far from home and it gets very lonely here. Few of us have families. We weren't lucky enough to get married and have children or grandchildren. We were unable to attend baseball games at Yankee Stadium, church on Sunday's, little league games, or piano recitals. Few of us have grandchildren that we can spoil nor wives we can care for in old age.

We are very disappointed that you did come to see us. We only did what we were told and our duty. We were true to each other, our families, and our country. We did the best we could under very difficult circumstances. You see we are the ghosts of Normandy.

Sincerely,

CMOH