Montgomery Cunningham “Monty” Meigs was born in Annapolis, MD on January 11, 1945 to Elizabeth Griggs Meigs a month after his father, Lieutenant Colonel Montgomery C. Meigs, was killed in action in Rohrbach, France. At an early age he became a Navy junior, as the stepson of Ensign William K. Lampman. Also, his two retired naval officer grandfathers showered him with naval history and stories of ship and submarine warfare. But he was tied by name to the Army, so that was the path he chose.

Prior to arriving at West Point, Monty attended Holderness School in New Hampshire, followed by a year at Colgate College. Lacrosse was a favorite pastime at both institutions, which he continued until his junior year at USMA. At that point he turned to rugby and served as OIC of the Rugby Team when he returned to teach history some years later. His membership on the Debate Council and Forum was an important part of his college experience, as he was able to interact with students at other universities, debating the merits of the war in Vietnam. When attending the Student Conference on National Affairs at Texas A&M, he met his future wife, Mary Ann.

After graduation, he served in Germany and took command of a cavalry troop upon promotion to first lieutenant. With the Army’s focus on Southeast Asia, he found the unit underfunded and overstaffed with “the young and restless.” But when he embarked upon a second command one year later, in combat, he was grateful for the experience. His third troop command, again in Germany (but with drug rings and disgruntled troopers rampant), was once more a challenge. However, years later he often remarked that he was fortunate to have spent so much time as a company grade officer in learning the basics of his branch under the tutelage of very patient senior NCOs. He felt it served him well in subsequent commands at the squadron, brigade, and division level. He once stated: “The military embeds habits—so that you can operate successfully under tremendous pressure and instinct. A lot of times you’re not thinking about what you’re doing. You’re looking at the right reads and making decisions accordingly. It’s like (being) a quarterback.” 

He was grateful for those “habits” during the first Persian Gulf War, when the brigade he commanded was called into combat during the Battle of Medina Ridge. He also drew on advice from soldiers who had served with his father in World War II and the mentoring he received from previous commanders and NCOs. Afterwards, he said in a speech: “There are people who invest in you and make you better, and you know that, and you owe them, and these are your ghosts. They’re watching over your shoulder, and when you get ready to do something stupid, your ghosts will keep you straight.”

Peacekeeping in the Balkans was a major endeavor during his final years of service. He spent two one-year tours in close quarters with NATO allies, trying to resolve conflict among the various factions and implementing a fragile Dayton Peace Treaty. As the SFOR and USAREUR commander, he was able to enlist the resources of U.S. Army Europe to develop innovative signal technology known as Blue Force Tracking, which helped to track the peacekeeper’s vehicles. The Kosovo War interrupted the gradual improvement of relations in the Balkans, but it ended a week before his son Matthew’s wedding, and he was able to safely leave Sarajevo to attend.

In between the command and staff assignments, Monty had opportunities to nurture his intellectual interests. West Point provided the opportunity to attend graduate school and teach in the History Department. A Council on Foreign Relations fellowship at MIT and a later National War College assignment afforded more time for research and writing articles on technological innovation and military strategy. 

With a Ph.D. and publication credentials under his belt he was able to transfer to a teaching career once his military career had ended. Just as he had mentored the young soldiers and officers in his unit, he sought to encourage and direct his graduate students in national security studies. Some of them took his courses like “Wars of Choice” or “Strategy and Military Operations” on a lark, then ended up with a career in defense. 

In the midst of his teaching, he was called back to the Pentagon to lead a critical DOD effort to counter the threat of improvised explosive devices. This assignment blended his two major interests, military strategy and emerging technology to support the war effort. Bringing to bear his years of military experience and academic research into one project was probably the highlight of his career. 

One last move, to Austin, TX, enabled Monty and Mary Ann to be near their sons and grandchildren at last. Though the time together was too brief, he cherished the sporting events, hunting and fishing that he shared with them.

At age 16 Monty wrote in his journal: “I am looking forward to a long…career in the Army. …I feel that in a sense I am destined to do great and good things. I am willing to work all my years and yes even to give my life for my country without question or failing. …So, I will go on with a prayer in my heart to the God who created me, with hope in that same heart, that I may do some appreciable good for God, my country and mankind.” 

Well done, Dad (Monty)!

— Mary Ann, William, and Matthew Meigs as well as LTG (R) John Caldwell