United States Department of Defense

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

     The soldiers were killed on Jan. 2, 2004, in Baghdad, Iraq, when their convoy was ambushed by the enemy who used an improvised explosive device (IED), small arms fire, and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG).  Killed were:

     Spc. Solomon C. Bangayan, 24, of Jay, Vt.

     Spc. Marc S. Seiden, 26, of Brigantine, N.J.

     The soldiers were assigned to 2^nd Battalion, 325^th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82^nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

     This incident is under investigation.