Pentagon Identifies 2 Army Casualties (OEF)

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2010 -- The following news release made available Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying casualties:

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Feb. 21 in Qayyarah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter had a hard landing. The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 230th Cavalry Regiment, Louisville, Tenn.

Killed were:

• Capt. Marcus R. Alford, 28, of Knoxville, Tenn.

• Chief Warrant Officer Billie J. Grinder, 25, of Gallatin, Tenn.

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