Pentagon Identifies 3 Army Casualties (OEF)

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2010 -- The following news release made available Thursday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying casualties:

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device Feb. 13 in Zhari province, Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:

• Staff Sgt. John A. Reiners, 24, of Lakeland, Fla.;

• Sgt. Jeremiah T. Wittman, 26, of Darby, Mont.; and

• Spc. Bobby J. Pagan, 23, of Austin, Texas.

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