Flag to be raised for decorated local war veteran
In a long-standing tradition, the casket flag of Byron Armstrong has been selected for the honor of flying over the Veterans Memorial Monument in Kalispell’s C. E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery for the coming year.
Each year on Memorial Day, veterans of Flathead County raise a new flag at the monument in the Conrad Cemetery in honor of a veteran.
This ceremony takes place just before the Memorial Day salute to veterans scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday.
United Veterans of Flathead County’s color guard will retire the flag of last year’s veteran, Joseph R. Sankovic, and raise Armstrong’s casket flag presented by his family. Members of both families participate in the ceremony.
A number of years ago, the family of Harry Farrington donated a new flagpole in memory of all Montanans who have served their country in the military.
It flies over the white marble structure, donated by the United Veterans, on which is engraved the names of those who gave their lives in combat — whether buried at Conrad or elsewhere.
Armstrong was born in Heyworth, Ill., in 1912. He died on March 8, 2011, in Kalispell at 98.
In 1934, he married Florence Gamas. The couple had one son, Darwin, and a daughter, Marleen (Walsh).
He worked first for the Fort Peck Engineer District and then for the Glasgow Post Office. Starting as a carrier, he rose through the ranks to retire in 1971 as assistant postmaster.
In September 1940, Armstrong was inducted into military service with the Montana National Guard. He was a member of Company G, 163rd Infantry.
His World War II service included two training periods in Australia and combat in New Guinea, the Schouten Islands and the Philippines.
Armstrong reached the rank of lieutenant colonel and commanded the 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry.
His decorations and citations included the Silver Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, American Theatre Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze Star, and the World War II Victory Medal.
When asked about his memories of the war by his family, Armstrong listed a water-filled fox hole, chigger bites, itching and sulfur powder and malaria.
Following the war, Armstrong remained active in the Montana National Guard until he resigned in March 1959. At the time, Adjutant Gen. S.L. Mitchell described him as “a topnotch officer that left a mark for everyone to shoot for.”