I remember as a young boy thinking about the year 2000 and how I would be 44 years old when the millennium arrived. How distant and far off that seemed at age 13. I wondered what it would be like to be a father and a member of the military. Being a brat overseas, I only knew one life, a military one. My life was shaped and molded by many important people. My family had a lot to do with that. Being a "Jr", I had a "Sr" making his impact as a father and a Japanese mother who always insisted on being the best that you could be. Anything less than perfection was a failure in her eyes. I was never perfect and of course, never will be but there was one person who seemed to always make me feel as close to perfect as I could be. That was my Godfather John Montville.
John was a quiet and gentle man. He had an incredible and uncanny ability to make you think about things in a way you never thought about before and he always seemed to find the brighter side of any situation. I guess that is why he was a decorated veteran. I can imagine that in combat, he showed an intensity and fierce tenacity to get the job done. He won medals. His citations talked about his bravery and valor. Yet, he was calming and gentile in his manner. You would have never known he was a warrior had you spent 20 minutes talking with him. He would have never discussed his awards and recognition by his country, as that would have been something that he thought was expected of him.
My Godfather died on April 28, 2012 and I knew this Memorial Day weekend would be very hard for me to get through. You can never miss someone more, when they are gone forever. John Montville inspired me, comforted me, instructed me, and guided me to be someone that would contribute to a world in need of contributions. When I was a young officer I didn't understand why the military was the way it was sometimes. John would explain it in a way that made sense, as an older sage enlisted man would know. He saw the big picture when I was still focused on the little things. He helped me navigate those times where it seemed that my family became a lower priority to my job as an officer in the military. He mentored me to become a better soldier and patriot. In doing so, he made me a better man and father in the process as well.
I miss John. A month before he died, I was with him during a chemo session. I left him, with the intentions of returning in a few weeks or a month to help out again. I missed him by a couple of days. He died suddenly to complications, not to the cancer that was attacking him like no enemy he has ever encountered before. The last time we were together, I hugged him and I told him I loved him. Sadly, that was the only time I ever said those words out loud to him in the 55 years that I knew him. I look back on that and hope that he knew, before I told him that day, that I did love him and respect him my whole life. I tried desperately as a wing man to help my flight leader through the battle. Unfortunately for me and my family, I couldn't succeed. He finally faced an enemy that he could not defeat but he didn't for a minute let up his resolve or his determination. He fought to the last minute. He left this world a better place and I will do my best to honor his life and to carry the colors in his place.
Master Sergeant John Albert Montville - Born June 24, 1932 - Died April 28, 2012
To all veterans and families of veterans, I thank you for your service to our great country. For those of you that have finished your watch, we'll take it from here and thank you for your service and sacrifice. We will honor your memory today. Know too, that we will honor your memory every day.
