Soldier from Elk Grove, Calif, among four killed in Iraq

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.