Army Pfc. Anthony W. Monroe

Died October 11, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

---

20, of Bismarck, N.D.; assigned to Division Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; killed Oct. 11 when two rockets impacted his camp in Baghdad. Also killed was Sgt. Pamela G. Osbourne.

---

North Dakota soldier killed in Iraq

Associated Press

BISMARCK, N.D. — A North Dakota Army Reserve soldier has been killed in Iraq, a family friend said Monday.

Pfc. Anthony Monroe, 21, of Bismarck, was killed Sunday while serving in Baghdad, said Terri Wilhelm, a family friend. She said the family did not have details.

Monroe was serving with the 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas, Wilhelm said. He had been in the Army since the fall of 2002 and had been in Iraq for the past couple of months. He was a vehicle mechanic.

Monroe was the son of Bernadette Monroe and the late Jefferey Monroe, of Bismarck. He was a graduate of Bismarck High School with a younger sister, Caitlyn and brother, Nicholas.

Wilhelm read a statement from the Monroe family saying, “The family thanks all of you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

He graduated from high school in 2002.

Mike Gilbertson, a teacher at Bismarck High School, said Monroe was excited to join the military.

The military said Monday that two soldiers had been killed and five wounded in a rocket attack in southern Baghdad, but did not give details.

A total of nine service members from North Dakota or serving with North Dakota military units have been killed while on duty in Iraq.

---

Family, friends remember fallen soldier

BISMARCK, N.D. — Pfc. Anthony Monroe, killed this week in Iraq, was an easygoing soldier who joined the military to travel and get an education, relatives and his boss say.

Monroe, 20, of Bismarck, was killed Sunday while serving in Baghdad, said Terri Wilhelm, a family friend.

“I still can’t believe it,” said Jeff Monroe, his grandfather. “He was a nice, laid-back kid who volunteered. We were looking forward to seeing Tony in March.”

Jeff Monroe, a 20-year Air Force veteran, said Tuesday the family had made no definite funeral plans.

Anthony Monroe was the son of Bernadette Monroe and the late Jefferey Monroe, of Bismarck. He was a graduate of Bismarck High School with a younger sister, Caitlyn and brother, Nicholas.

Monroe was serving with the 1st Cavalry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas, Wilhelm said. He was a vehicle mechanic.

Judi Mackie was Monroe’s friend and boss at the Pretzelmaker, a food kiosk in a Bismarck mall. She said he had worked there three years before joining the military.

Mackie told The Bismarck Tribune she tried to talk Monroe out of joining the Army, but it was something he wanted to do.

“Tony loved Bismarck and really, really loved North Dakota,” Mackie said. “But he wanted to get out in the world, and this was a good chance for him to get his education.”

Mackie kept a picture of Monroe at the pretzel shop, with a yellow ribbon attached to it. On Monday, she replaced the yellow ribbon with a black one that had an American flag.

“I couldn’t have loved him more if he was my own son,” Mackie said. “He called me his second mom. Tony was a terrific kid. He was like a son to me.

“I’m dreading the end of the week because I know Tony will be home,” she said. “We’ve been waiting for him to come home for so long, but not in this way.”

A total of nine U.S. service members from North Dakota or serving with North Dakota military units have been killed while on duty in Iraq.

— Associated Press

---

Funeral held for slain Bismarck soldier

BISMARCK, N.D. — Family and friends said their final goodbyes Thursday to slain soldier Pfc. Anthony Monroe.

Hundreds of people turned out for Monroe’s funeral at First Presbyterian Church, which was closed to the media, said Terri Wilhelm, a family friend. Monroe will be buried later, she said.

Monroe, 20, of Bismarck, was killed Oct. 11 when rockets hit his camp in Baghdad. He became the ninth service member from North Dakota or serving with a North Dakota military unit to be reported killed while on duty in Iraq.

Wilhelm said Monroe was posthumously promoted from private first class to specialist, and his mother, Bernadette Monroe, was presented with his Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Good Conduct medals.

People who knew Monroe said he was a man who had many friends.

“He was like a brother to me,” said Sam Abdallah, one of those friends.

Anthony Monroe was the son of Bernadette and the late Jefferey Monroe, of Bismarck. He was a graduate of Bismarck High School, and had two siblings, a younger sister, Caitlyn, and a brother, Nicholas.

He was serving as a vehicle mechanic with the 1st Cavalry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas, when he was killed.

— Associated Press