Soldier killed in Afghanistan wanted to see the world, protect platoon

It’s no surprise to Debra Hays that her son, Staff Sgt. Thaddeus S. Montgomery II, ended up in a remote outpost in Afghanistan where the infantryman died Wednesday from unspecified injuries described as a “noncombat incident.”

Montgomery, 29, was born with a wanderlust, Hays said. It led him to travel the country after leaving high school in Decatur, Ala. And it prompted him to move to Montana where he worked at Yellowstone National Park for two years before joining the Army in March 2003.

“He’s one of those dreamers,” Hays said of her son. “He always wanted to go explore the world.”

That itch to see the world, combined with his love of the outdoors, explained why he adapted so well to life in the Army, she said.

“He loved the outdoors,” she said Saturday from her home in Florence, Ky. “He liked roughing it. Working in the outdoors. He never complained about how rough it was in Iraq or Afghanistan.”

When he died, Montgomery was serving his third combat tour. He was stationed the remote Korengal Outpost in Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan, the Army said Friday. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team at Fort Carson.

Besides his current duty, Montgomery had logged two tours in Iraq in 2003-4 and 2006-7, as well as time in Korea patrolling the demilitarized zone, Hays said.

The family was surprised, at first, when he joined the Army.

“He said ‘Mom, it’s something I felt I needed to do,’ and I said ‘Then it’s what you need to do,’ ” Hays said, recalling their conversation in 2003.

She said he’d been inspired by a family vacation to Washington D.C. where they visited the national monuments. Plus, Hays said, the family has a long history of military service.

Montgomery was assigned to Fort Carson in 2005.

Hays said Montgomery enjoyed the Army and she described her son as a soldier whose main concern was watching out for his platoon.

“He was the kind of guy who was always there for others,” Hays said. “He wouldn’t let morale get down. He’d ask family members to send care packages for his guys and he’d send lists of everybody else’s needs.”

He also solicited care packages from businesses in the states. In one of his letters, he asked the editor of Arizona Highways magazine for copies of the monthly publication for his platoon to read. The exchange led to a bond between Montgomery and the magazine and even a television appearance in Arizona over the Christmas holidays, Hays said.

“I got to see Thad smiling,” Hays said. “He has a big smile and I could see his dimples. His smile just lights you up.”

That television interview would be the last time she’d see her son.

“What a wonderful Christmas gift,” Hays said, her voice breaking as she cried. “It’s priceless.”

 Her tears turned to anger as she discussed the circumstances of her son’s death. Hays said the Army told her that Montgomery died of a head wound after being shot on the outpost, which frequently comes under enemy gunfire. Then she learned the incident was classified as a “noncombat-related incident.”

“It’s still under investigation,” she said. “We just want the truth.”

Besides Hays, Montgomery is survived by his 3-year-old son, Thaddeus Montgomery III, of Cullman, Ala., his father, Thaddeus Montgomery Sr., of Fairfax, Va., a sister, Stephanie Montgomery of Atlanta, and his brother, Dustin Border of Madison, Ala.

Burial is scheduled Feb. 4 in Arlington National Cemetery.