United States Department of Defense

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died from wounds sustained after they were shot by enemy forces in Mosul, Iraq on May 2. They were assigned to the 1^st Battalion, 12^th Cavalry Regiment, 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 1^st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

 

            Killed were:

 

            Spc. Jeremiah P. McCleery, 24, of Portola, Calif.; and

 

            Spc. Jake R. Velloza, 22, of Inverness, Calif.

 

            For more information, media may contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993; after hours (254) 291-2591.