Fallen SF Soldier receives posthumous Silver Star Medal.(UPDATE)

The family of a 3rd Special Forces Group Soldier received his posthumous Silver Star Medal during a ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C., July 14.

Members of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd SF Group, honored their fallen comrade, memorialized his memory and thanked his wife for her sacrifice.

Sergeant 1st Class Justin S. Monschke, an SF weapons sergeant, was killed in action Oct, 14, 2007, just days before his 29th birthday. He was killed by an improvised explosive device during a dismounted movement to a suspected enemy position in the south Baghdad region of Arab Jabour, Iraq.

Prior to his death, Monschke distinguished himself on the field of battle by killing 10 enemy combatants and saving the lives of his fellow Soldiers, as well as the lives of the Iraqi soldiers with them, during an Aug. 1, 2007, battle.

"This is an incredible award, given only to those who have displayed the highest degree of gallantry in service and honor," said Lieutenant General Robert W. Wagner, commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, who spoke at the award ceremony.

Monschke was serving as the point man during the Aug. 1, 2007, operation with the Iraqi Counterterrorism Force. When the assault force, led by Monschke, received small-arms fire from four terrorists, he immediately returned fire, aggressively charged forward and closed the distance killing three terrorists and wounding a fourth by accurately firing while on the move. Monschke rallied the ICTF element with him to assault the target building. As his group entered the building, they were fired upon, and Monschke returned fire, killing two more terrorists.

Monschke then led the assault force of Iraqis into the fourth target building. As the assault force was entering the building, a vehicle ...