United States Department of Defense

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.   The soldiers were killed on Dec. 8 in Ad Duluiyah, Iraq, when their vehicle flipped into a canal.  The soldiers are:

            Staff Sgt. Steven H. Bridges, 33, of Tracy, Calif.

            Spc. Joseph M. Blickenstaff, 23, of Corvallis, Ore.

            Both soldiers were assigned to the 1^st Battalion, 23^rd Infantry Regiment, 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 2^nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash. 

            The incident is under investigation.