Maysville, Mo., man among three dead in attack near Baghdad

MAYSVILLE, Mo. -- A Missouri man was among three soldiers killed in Iraq when a bomb exploded near their Humvee, military officials said Friday.

Spc. Joshua J. Munger, 22, of Maysville, was fatally injured Wednesday in Latafiyah, 25 miles south of Baghdad.

Munger joined the Army in June 2002, arriving at Fort Campbell, Ky., at the start of this year. He already had completed an overseas tour with the 82nd Airborne Division.

He is survived by his wife, Alysha B. Munger, and an 11-month-old son, Colton.

J.T. Plowman, a lifelong friend, last saw Munger in September when the soldier came back to northwest Missouri to see his parents and friends before going overseas.

"He'd just re-enlisted for two years, but we talked about going out west to Wyoming or Montana and buying some land to start farming and raising cattle when he got out," Plowman said.

Plowman said he met Munger in school. Munger was a member of the wrestling team at the Maysville High School but graduated from Central High School in St. Joseph after his family moved during his senior year.

"We liked a lot of the same things -- fishing, riding horses, cars, and chasing girls while we were in high school," Plowman said. "But he was the active one who kept himself in top shape."

Also killed in the bombing were Pfc. Tyler R. MacKenzie, 20, of Evans, Colo., and Spc. Benjamin A. Smith, 21, of Hudson, Wis. Both were single.

Army officials said memorial services for the soldiers will be held in Iraq.