Two Soldiers Killed in Iraq; Previous Casualties Identified

American Forces Press Service
June 20, 2007 – A U.S. soldier was killed in Iraq yesterday, another was killed June 18, and the Defense Department released the identities of four soldiers killed recently in the war on terror. A Task Force Lightning soldier died as a result of injuries suffered from an explosion near his vehicle while conducting operations in Diyala province yesterday. Two other soldiers were wounded and transported to a coalition medical facility for treatment.

A Task Force Marne soldier was killed and three others were wounded when their patrol was struck by a roadside bomb south of Baghdad June 18. The soldiers were responding to another improvised explosive device attack that wounded one soldier. The soldiers' names are being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department released the identities of four soldiers killed recently supporting the war on terror.

-- Pfc. David A. Wilkey Jr., 22, of Elkhart, Ind., died June 18 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit June 17 in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

-- Capt. Joshua E. Steele, 26, of North Henderson, Ill.;
-- Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Henderson, 35, of Hillsboro, Ore.; and
-- Sgt. 1st Class John M. Hennen, 26, of Vinton, La., died June 17 in Panjway, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. Steele and Henderson were assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (Transition Team), Fort Riley. Hennen was assigned to the Louisiana National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, Lake Charles, La.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq and Defense Department news releases.)