Pentagon Identifies 9 US Soldiers Killed in Northern Kunar, Afghanistan

News in Balance:

NOTE: This is an update to an earlier article.

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of nine soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died of wounds suffered when their outpost was attacked by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades from enemy forces in Wanat, Afghanistan, on July 13. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

Killed were:

• 1st Lt. Jonathan P. Brostrom, 24, of Hawaii.

• Sgt. Israel Garcia, 24, of Long Beach, Calif.

• Cpl. Jonathan R. Ayers, 24, of Snellville, Ga.

• Cpl. Jason M. Bogar, 25, of Seattle, Wash.

• Cpl. Jason D. Hovater, 24, of Clinton, Tenn.

• Cpl. Matthew B. Phillips, 27, of Jasper, Ga.

• Cpl. Pruitt A. Rainey, 22, of Haw River, N.C.

• Cpl. Gunnar W. Zwilling, 20, of Florissant, Mo.

• Pfc. Sergio S. Abad, 21, of Morganfield, Ky.

In addition, 15 ISAF and four Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were wounded.

(From a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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