United States Department of Defense

                The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  They died Jan. 13 at Combat Outpost McClain, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device.  The soldiers were assigned to the 118^th Military Police Company (Airborne), 503^rd Military Police Battalion (Airborne), 16^th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

                Killed were:

                Staff Sgt. Daniel D. Merriweather, 25, of Collierville Tenn.

                Pfc. Geoffrey A. Whitsitt, 21, of Taylors, S.C.

                For more information the media may contact the XVIII Airborne Corps public affairs office at 910-309-2843.