Oral History: Montelongo, Paul

Paul Montelongo, a native of San Angelo, TX, served as a corporal with the Army's 38th Regiment during the Korean War.

Originally a mortarman, he was chosen to be the commanding officer's driver and was with him when they were shelled by enemy artillery. A piece of fragmentation that might have otherwise killed, or severely wounded, Cpl. Montelongo was instead stopped by a bible in he was carrying on his person.

That story was eventually covered in various newspapers, to include The Stars & Stripes. Mr. Montelongo still has that bible and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received during the war.