Army Casualty

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

Staff Sgt. Michael A. Bechert, 24, of New Castle, Ind., died on 14 June in San Antonio, Texas of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device on May 30 in Baghdad, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.

For more information related to this release, the media may contact the Fort Riley public affairs office at (785) 239-3410 or (785) 239-2222.