Army Sgt. 1st Class Raymond J. Munden

Died February 16, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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35, of Mesquite, Texas; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Feb. 16 at Forward Operating Base Tillman in Orgun-E, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using indirect fire.

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Longtime soldier was looking forward to final assignment, retirement

The Associated Press

Raymond J. Munden joined the Army in August 1991, only three months after graduating from high school. Growing up in a military family, he and his brother, Brad, both set their sights on serving their country at a young age.

Raymond joined the Army, and Brad joined the Navy.

“We both knew growing up that that’s what we wanted to do,” said Brad Munden. “He’s always had that passion.”

Munden, 35, of Mesquite, Texas, died Feb. 16 in Paktika province after insurgents attacked his unit. He was assigned to Fort Campbell.

His second tour in Afghanistan was his sixth overall, and he was hoping to work as an instructor at West Point until retirement after returning home. He also served in Somalia and Haiti.

“We were thinking he would never have to go back to war again,” said Dwaine Clark, the soldier’s stepfather.

Munden loved to play sports and participated on football and softball teams. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially with his family.

Munden is survived by his wife, Kelly their daughters, Sydney, 6, and Kailey, 2 and two sons from a previous marriage, Gaven, 13, and Garrett, 12.