United States Department of Defense

                The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation EnduringFreedom. They died June 19 in Kandahar, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when their vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device.

                Killed were:

               Staff Sgt. Paul G. Smith, 43, of East Peoria, IL. He was an Illinois Army National Guardsman assigned to the 2^nd Squadron, 106^th Cavalry, Aurora, IL.

                Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Melton, 26, of Carlyle, IL. He was an Illinois Army National Guardsman assigned to the 2^nd Battalion, 130^th Infantry, Marion, Illinois.

                For more information, media may contact the Illinois National Guard public affairs office at (217) 761-3569.