Fallen Soldier: Jeremiah J. Monroe

Army Private First Class Jeremiah J. Monroe, 31, of Niskayuna, N.Y. was a combat engineer assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y. He joined the Army in March 2008 and was on his first deployment to Afghanistan. He died Sept. 17, 2009, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device, just 2 months after his deployment.

PFC Monroe liked to build and fix things, and his brother, who was also in the military, said he was a master tradesman. In his spare time, he enjoyed driving motorcycles and served as a mentor in the Big Brothers-Big Sisters program.

PFC Monroe’s awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Combat Action Badge.
According to his great aunt, “He was happy to be in the Army and doing what he could to protect his country.”

PFC Monroe’s daughter is a Folds of Honor scholarship recipient.