THE TENSION: Pentagon Identifies Army Casualties (OEF)

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2009 -- The following article is a summary of news releases made available Friday by the U.S. Department of Defense identifying casualties:

The Department of Defense today announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Kurt R. Curtiss, 27, of Murray, Utah, died Aug. 26 in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was shot while his unit was supporting Afghan security forces during an enemy attack. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Pfc. Matthew E. Wildes, 18, of Hammond, La., died Aug. 27 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.