Wesley Durell Monts, Sr. was born on September 24, 1908 in Shannon, Mississippi. He was the son of Purd Gilbert Monts and Edna Paralee Herndon Monts. Enlisting in the U.S. Army, Durell was assigned to the 34th Armored Regiment and eventually to 3rd Platoon, Troop D, 85th Cavalry. When he completed boot camp and various training, Durell shipped over to England to await an assignment. His company would be part of the back up troops that would continue to support the Normandy invasion.

Durell’s company landed on Utah Beach in late July of 1944. He was a machine gunner in a reconnaissance tank known as the Greyhound, also known as a “peep.” They were scouts. On the evening of Aug. 9, 1944, they were driving along a country road, close to the small village of Courcival. Durell was the machine gunner in the lead peep when he spotted the enemy. He immediately began firing as they were ambushed. Durell took a direct hit from a cannon shell and was killed instantly, while still firing his machine gun. The driver of the tank was also killed in the skirmish. PFC Monts is now buried in the Brittany American Cemetery, Montjoie Saint Martin, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov