The Department of Defense announced today the death of five soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
They died Friday when their military vehicle was struck by a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Mosul, Iraq. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Killed were:
- Staff Sgt. Bryan E. Hall, 32, of Elk Grove, Calif.
- Sgt. Edward W. Forrest Jr., 25, of St. Louis, Mo.
- Staff Sgt. Gary L. Woods Jr., 24, of Lebanon Junction, Ky.
- Cpl. Jason G. Pautsch, 20, of Davenport, Iowa.
- PV2 Bryce E. Gautier, 22, of Cypress, Calif.
Elk Grove, Calif., is about 140 miles southwest of Carson City.