|
Justin
Monschke
"De
Oppresso Liber," is Latin for "to free the oppressed." According to his
battalion commander, Sergeant First Class Justin S. Monschke, 28, well
deserved the prestigious Green Beret he earned in 2002. Lieutenant
Colonel Heinz Dinter told hundreds of mourners who attended Justin's
funeral at the First Baptist Church in Denton, Texas, "On October 14,
Sergeant First Class Justin Monschke gave his life so that one day the
Iraqi people can sound the blessed refrain of freedom."
Buried on October 23, 2007, with full military honors, including a 21-gun
salute, SFC Monschke's remains were laid to rest in Jackson Cemetery
just south of Krum. The Army presented American flags to Monschke's
wife, mother and father while a bagpiper played "Amazing Grace."
Hundreds of family, friends, veterans, active-duty soldiers, police
officers, firefighters and community members surrounded them during the
commitment ceremony.
Justin's father, Larry Monschke of Fort Worth, said his son enlisted in
the Army in 1996 during his junior year of high school. "He had to
graduate high school first, but he wanted to go right away. So, as soon
as he graduated, he left for boot camp a week later." He loved being in
the Army, and he served his country with pride, his father said.
SFC Monschke was serving in the south Baghdad region of Arab Jabour, Iraq,
as a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha team weapons sergeant
assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group
(Airborne) from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He died there when an lED
exploded near him while he conducted a dismounted movement to a
suspected enemy position.
During his ten years in the Army, SFC Monschke trained extensively in
advanced military tactics, paratrooper operations, and emergency medical
treatment while attending Ranger, Special Forces and noncommissioned
officer training. He served as an instructor at the 5th Ranger
Training Battalion in Dahlonega, Georgia and as a squad leader and
observer/controller at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk,
Louisiana.
He deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom in July 2007 as a member of the
Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force. This was his second
deployment in the military and his first in Iraq.
Besides his father and mother, Patty Jett of Denton, SFC Monschke is
survived by his wife, Melissa, a daughter and son, Ashley and Ryan, and
a stepson, Dylan, of Lillington, N.C.
Sergeant First Class Monschke was recommended for the Silver Star and
the Purple Heart, in addition to those already earned during his career:
The Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army
Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, three Army Good Conduct
Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary
Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Me~ Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on
Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional
Development Ribbon with Numeral 3, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry
Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall
Badge, Air Assault Badge, Special Forces Tab, and the Ranger Tab.
Rest In Peace Brother
..
Nominated by Robert Weiner
|
 |
