Oct 16, 2007 8:36 am US/Central
FW Soldier Among 2 With Texas Ties To Die In Iraq
EL PASO (AP) ―
Two soldiers with Texas ties have died in Iraq, the Department of Defense announced Monday.
Sgt. 1st Class Justin M. Monschke, 28, of Krum, died Sunday in Arab Jabour, Iraq, from wounds he suffered when an improvised explosive device blew up near his unit during a combat patrol.
Monschke was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.
It was the first deployment to Iraq and the second overseas for Monschke, who earned the Green Beret in 2002, the military said. He enlisted in the Army in June 1997, a month after he graduated from Krum High School.
He spent more than two years with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky.
He also spent time as an instructor at the U.S. Army Ranger Training Battalion in Dahlonega, Ga., and as a squad leader and observer/controller at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La.
He joined his latest unit in April 2006.
Monschke is survived by his wife, Melissa, daughter, Ashley, son, Ryan, and stepson, Dylan, of Lillington, N.C.; father Larry Monschke of Fort Worth; and mother, Patty Jett of Denton.
Spc. Jason B. Koutroubas, 21, of Dunnellon, Fla., died Sunday in Tal Afar, Iraq, from injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident. His death is under investigation.
Koutroubas was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Bliss just outside El Paso.
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