Pentagon Identifies Army Casualties (OEF)

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2009 -- The following news release made available Saturday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying casualties:

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Oct. 16 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. The soldiers were assigned to the 143rd Infantry Detachment, Austin, Texas.

Killed were:

• Staff Sgt. Chris N. Staats, 32, of Fredericksburg, Texas.

• Spc. Anthony G. Green, 28, of Matthews, N.C.

(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)