Junior Floyd Roniger was born on March 1, 1946, in Trenton, Illinois, in Clinton County, the son of Gilmer and Virginia (Hammer) Roniger. He graduated from Highland High School in Highland, Illinois, in 1964 and afterward worked at Granite City Steel in Granite City, Illinois. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 1966, served 13 months in Korea, and then re-enlisted at the request of a friend who died in Korea. In June 1968 he went to Vietnam, where he served as a sergeant in B Company, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, in the Mekong Delta. He was killed on February 20, 1969, in a night defensive position at the age of 22. He was survived by his sisters Carol Ann Prange and Lois Brazeau. His awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Expert Automatic Rifle Badge, Marksman Rifle Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Ribbon, and he is honored on the Vietnam Memorial Wall 32W 067.