Charles E. Leonard Jr. dies 'of wounds suffered when the vehicle he was in was struck by a rocket propelled grenade'

A Monroe soldier killed Sunday in Iraq will be buried next week in the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery.

U.S. Army Spc. Charles E. Leonard Jr. will be the first combat fatality to be buried in the cemetery, which is on Mike Clark Road in the Four Forks area of southwest Caddo Parish.

The 29-year-old soldier died in Baghdad when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle, according to military reports.

Services for Leonard will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Rose-Neath Southside Funeral Home, with burial following. Burial will be with full military honors.

Visitation will be at the funeral home Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.

Leonard was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, out of Fort Hood, Texas.

From the Shreveport Times