United States Department of Defense

                The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. 

                They died Aug. 2, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when they encountered an enemy improvised explosive device.  These soldiers were assigned to the 1^st Battalion, 508^th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4^th Brigade Combat Team, 82^nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. 

                Killed were: 

                                1st Sgt. Russell R. Bell, 37, of Tyler, Texas, and 

                                Staff Sgt. Matthew S. Sitton, 26, of Largo, Fla. 

                For more information pertaining to this release, contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs office at 910-432-0661 or 910-813-3891.