Justin S. Monschke

Sgt. 1st Class Justin S. Monschke, 28, a graduate of Krum High School, was killed Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007, in a south Baghdad region of Arab Jabour, Iraq.
Funeral: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at First Baptist Church of Denton, 1400 Malone St. Interment: Jackson Cemetery in Krum. Visitation: The family will be at DeBerry Funeral Directors 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22.
Memorials: may be made to the Justin Monschke Childrens Benefit Fund, in care of Northstar Bank of Texas, P.O. Box 1108, Krum 76249, 940-482-6882.
Justin was born Oct. 20, 1978, in Denton to Larry Monschke and Patty Forsythe Jett. He graduated from Krum High School in 1997 and was on his way to boot camp the following week. He married Melissa Morro on Feb. 23, 2002, in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
In 2002, he earned his Green Beret. He was in the U.S. Army Rangers, Special Forces and was an instructor in Rangers. He was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Airborne, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Justin had earned a Silver Star, a Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal (third award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (third award), Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge and Russian Parachutist Badge.
Justin was devoted to his family and to his comrades-in-arms.
Survivors: His wife, Melissa; his daughter and son, Ashley and Ryan; stepson, Dylan Morro of Lillington, N.C.; his father, Larry Monschke and his wife, Ginny of North Richland Hills; his mother, Patty Jett of Denton; his grandparents, J.L. and Betty Forsythe of Sanger; brother, Jarett Monschke and wife, Jeri of Valley View; stepbrothers, Gregory Smith of Wautaga and Wade Smith of Williamsburg, Va., and stepsister, Stephanie Smith of Sanger and their families.