Chaplain Edwin Ulysses Monroe O-532213

First Lieutenant, Chaplain Edwin Ulysses Monroe Service Number O-532213 United States Army K. I. A. Chaplain Monroe was born on February 26, 1915 in Harrisonville Missouri. He was the son of George Calvin Monroe Sr. and Cora Frances Thomas. He studied at 3 Baptist seminaries, Southwestern, Central and Couthern. He preached his first sermon at Liberty Baptist Church in John County. He was ordinated on June 4, 1937. He married Doris Driggers on August 6, 1937, in Harrisonville, Missouri. They had two children during their marriage. At the time of his enlistment he was 5 foot 9 inches tall weighed 146 pounds had Blue eyes and brown hair. He was serving as the Pastor at the First Baptist Church in Adrian Missouri. Edwin enlisted in the US Army in August 1943, at the age of 28. He was commissioned in May 1944. He served at Camp Van Dorn Mississippi, in the 63rd Infantry Division. He was first assigned as a Chaplin in Headquarters Company, 253rd Infantry regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. He left for Europe with the 63rd Division in November 1944. He served in Combat zones with Headquarters Company, 254th Infantry regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. On January 20, 1945 near Zellenberg France he was killed in Action due to shell fragment, at the age of 29. He was also the first Chaplain from the 7th Army to be killed in World War Two. (The 7th Army first saw combat on 8 November 1942.) The 63rd Division Chaplain William E. Patrick officiated the funeral services of Edwin on January 23, 1945 at a U.S. Army military cemetery. Chaplain Monroe was Awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, The American Theater of operations Medal, the European Theater of Operations Medal, and the World War Two Victory Medal. 

William Jewell College – Liberty, Missouri 1935

 

To the 63rd comes the sad distinction of having the first chaplain in the Seventh Army to be killed in action. Chaplain Edwin U. Monroe, a first lieutenant, was fatally injured Jan. 20 when struck by a fragment from a shell which landed in the road near the jeep in which he was riding. The driver of the vehicle escaped injury. Division Chaplain William E. Patrick officiated at funeral services Jan. 23 at a U.S. Army military cemetery. Chaplain Monroe was born in 1915 in Harrisonville, Mo., the son of a Baptist minister. He was a graduate of William, Jewell College. Liberty, Mo., and studied at two Southern Baptist ceminaries. He was commissioned last May. From July to Oct. 20 he was chaplain of the 253d Inf. Another casualty among 63d Div. chaplains was chaplain Raphael H. Miller, Jr 255th Inf., who was wounded Jan. 3. The Purple Heart has been awarded to the chaplain whose home is in Indianapolis.

To the 63rd comes the sad distinction of having the first chaplain in the Seventh Army to be killed in action. Chaplain Edwin U. Monroe, a first lieutenant, was fatally injured Jan. 20 when struck by a fragment from a shell which landed in the road near the jeep in which he was riding. The driver of the vehicle escaped injury. Division Chaplain William E. Patrick officiated at funeral services Jan. 23 at a U.S. Army military cemetery. Chaplain Monroe was born in 1915 in Harrisonville, Mo., the son of a Baptist minister. He was a graduate of William, Jewell College. Liberty, Mo., and studied at two Southern Baptist ceminaries. He was commissioned last May. From July to Oct. 20 he was chaplain of the 253d Inf. Another casualty among 63d Div. chaplains was chaplain Raphael H. Miller, Jr 255th Inf., who was wounded Jan. 3. The Purple Heart has been awarded to the chaplain whose home is in Indianapolis.

63rd Division Records have him listed as a Capt not a 1st Lt.

63rd Division Records

Blood and Fire Newspaper 1945

the 1920 United States Federal Census

the 1930 United States Federal Census

the 1940 United States Federal Census

the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002

U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947

the U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S., Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949