COL MONTIMER M. HILLEARY

Col. Montimer M. Hilleary, born in Humboldt, joined the U.S. Army on January 1, 1942. He received his commission on July 15, 1942 and was assigned for further training as an ordnance officer. After this advanced training and duty in the American Theater, he was assigned to Camp Naumoka, Fiji. The remainder of World War II he spent in the Pacific Theater; most of the time on Guadalcanal.

After the war he returned to Kansas and as a major, joined Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 130th Field Artillery Group in Hutchinson, Kansas. He was assigned to the 130th for the next three years serving as S-4, S-3, and Executive Officer. In September of 1950, his unit was ordered to active duty in Korea and Japan during the Korean War. He returned to Hutchinson in August of 1952 as a lieutenant colonel, serving first as Executive Officer of the 130th Artillery Group and beginning in 1965 as its commanding officer which he retained until July 31, 1974.

In addition to his meritorious service to his country in both World War II and the Korean Conflict, Hilleary gave meritorious service to the Kansas National Guard and the State of Kansas through his support of civil authorities in civil disasters. His exceptional leadership shown in the National Guard relief operations in the wake of the February 1971 blizzard that struck Reno County provided the area with vital assistance.

He also assisted in the reorganization and development of the 130th Field Artillery in the post World War II era.