North Country Gazette -- BRANT LAKE—Pfc. Jeremiah Monroe of Brant Lake has died while serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.

Monroe’s mother was notified Thursday afternoon.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Monroe died Sept. 17 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Handahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), at Fort Drum.

Monroe, 33, was the son of the late Rob Monroe and Dolores (Peanut) Monroe of Brant Lake. He had last been home on leave in March following the death of his 51-year-old father of brain cancer.

Monroe’s death is the fourth in his family this year. He leaves behind a 9-year-old daughter, Delilah Rose.

==Another news story==

Glens Falls Post-Star -- A local man who was serving with the Army has died in Afghanistan.



Jeremiah Monroe, 32, of Brant Lake, a former student at North Warren Central School, recently died while on duty, a relative said.



According to The Post-Star’s news partner, WNYT-TV NewsChannel 13, Monroe, a private 1st class in the Army, was killed by a roadside bomb.



The U.S. Department of Defense had yet to release information on Monroe as of Friday evening.

The department releases information on soldiers who die while on active duty 24 hours after the family is notified. The family learned of the soldier’s death on Thursday afternoon, WNYT reported.


On Friday evening, Monroe’s aunt, Barbara French of Brant Lake, said the family is asking for privacy.

"We don’t know a whole lot right now," she said.



When asked to speak about Monroe, French said he was a "very quiet, loving young man."



French told NewsChannel 13 that Monroe’s death is the fourth death in the family within the last year. Monroe’s father, Robert Monroe, died at the age of 51 in March after a three-year battle with a brain tumor.

"Jeremiah cherished his family more than life itself," French said to NewsChannel 13.

He leaves behind a 9-year-old daughter, Delilah Rose.



Monroe is the third soldier from the area who has died in the line of duty in the past five years.



Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Kimmerly of Johnsburg died on Sept. 15, 2003, when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle in Baghdad.

On Easter Sunday in 2004, South Glens Falls resident Army National Guard Pfc. Nathan Brown was killed by a propelled grenade after it struck his platoon in Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad.



Joann Ellsworth, commander of American Legion Post 964 in Chestertown, said she had heard of Monroe’s death, but had no other information.



"He’s definitely deserving of some recognition," she said.



Monroe’s funeral arrangements will be handled by Barton-McDermott Funeral Home in Chestertown.



Post-Star reporter Omar Aquije contributed to this report.