Army Casualties

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

Killed were:

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

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

For more information, media may contact 1st Lt. Stacey Rieger at 217-494-1965 or the Illinois National Guard public affairs office at 217-761-3569.