United States Department of Defense

 

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  They died Feb. 23 of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV during combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq, on Feb. 22.

 

            All three soldiers were assigned to the 1^st Battalion, 9^th Infantry Regiment, 2^nd Brigade Combat Team, 2^nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

 

            Killed were:

 

            Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Hager, 29, of Broomfield, Colo.

 

            Pfc. Travis W. Buford, 23, of Galveston, Texas, and

 

            Pfc. Rowan D. Walter, 25, of Winnetka, Calif.

 

            For further information related to this release, contact the Fort Carson Public Affairs Office at (719) 526-5500.