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IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 980-03
December 26, 2003

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

     The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

     Sgt. Michael E. Yashinski, 24, of Monument, Colo., died on Dec. 24, 2003, in Kirkuk, Iraq.  Yashinski died of injuries sustained while running a communication wire.  Yashinski was assigned to the 501st Forward Support Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy.

     This incident is under investigation.