The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Major [then Captain] Paul Joseph Montague (MCSN: 0-81197), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity from June 1970 to March 1973, while interned as a Prisoner of War (POW) in Southeast Asia. Subjected to severe psychological and physical cruelties by an enemy who ignored international agreements, Major Montague remained steadfast and uncompromising in his strict adherence to the Code of Conduct. By his constant lack of cooperation to the attempts of his captors to dominate him, he not only aroused their increased wrath, but also provided his fellow prisoners with a positive example by which they could establish and maintain their own standard of resistance. With disregard for his own personal safety or well-being, Major Montague persisted in his campaign to frustrate the enemy’s attempts at procuring information or cooperation. Through his high degree of professionalism, courage, and devotion to duty, Major Montague reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Paul Joseph Montague (MCSN: 0-81197), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (HMM-165), Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-SIX (MAG-36), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 29 March 1968. On that date, Captain Montague was Section Leader of two CH-46 transport helicopters in a flight of four aircraft assigned the mission of inserting a United States Army Special Forces unit and Vietnamese Rangers deep in hostile territory, east of the Ashau Valley. Arriving over the designated area, he skillfully maneuvered his aircraft into the landing zone, disembarked the troops and, although his helicopter was damaged by hostile ground fire, safely departed the zone under heavy automatic weapons fire. Returning to Phu Bai, Captain Montague embarked additional passengers and, disregarding his own safety, proceeded to the area where he landed in the hazardous zone, fully realizing that one United States Army helicopter was forced to abort his approach into the dangerous area, and another had crash-landed in the zone due to extensive battle damage. While disembarking the reinforcements, his aircraft was damaged by mortar fragments, and as he lifted from the hostile area, the helicopter came under fire from enemy weapons positions. Subsequently informed that the friendly unit was surrounded by a large enemy force and that a maintenance crew which had previously been inserted into the area required immediate extraction, Captain Montague embarked additional reinforcements and returned to the landing zone for the third time. Undaunted by the hostile fire directed at his helicopter, he landed in the besieged area, disembarked the relief force and embarked the recovery team aboard his aircraft. As he was lifting out of the fire-swept area, his helicopter was repeatedly struck by hostile ground fire. Reaction instantly, he skillfully avoided a ravine, undoubtedly saving the lives of his crew and passengers. By his courage, resolute determination and selfless devotion to duty despite extreme personal danger, Captain Montague upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.