Private First Class Monson was a member of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 8 September 1950 and returned to duty the following day. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 26 April 1951.

Monson was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.