Marine infantry veteran from viral meme has died

The US Marine infantry veteran who became a meme after he finished nursing school has passed away due to cancer.

Sgt. Justin Monk was best known for a photo in which he was the only stern-faced male nurse amidst a group of smiling female nurses- a symbol of the non-traditional education and career route many veterans take.

The emergency medical supply and equipment company, North American Rescue, wrote a tribute to Monk on Thursday.

“Justin served in the Marine Corps as a 0311 with 2/3 from 2003 to 2007 with deployments to Afghanistan 2005-2006,” NAR wrote. “He returned home and worked towards a degree in Kinesiology and nursing. Since graduating, Justin worked as an ER nurse for the Hamilton Healthcare System and an ICU Nurse at Granbury Hospital.”

“In January 2019, Justin was diagnosed with a pineal parenchymal tumor of intermediate differentiation (PPTID), a rare form of neurological cancer,” NAR continued in their Facebook post. “He was fighting the tumor with radiation and chemotherapy for the multiple tumors in his brain and spinal cord.”

Monk recently passed away after a 3-year battle with neurological cancer on 15 Jan 2023, leaving behind a wife and three children.

According to his obituary, the Texas native’s funeral will be held on Saturday, January 21st at the Cowboy Church of Erath County.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy be made in the form of donations to American Valor Foundation.

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