DoD Identifies Army Casualties
August 08, 2005

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Both died on August 5, 2005, in Rubiah, Iraq, when a civilian fuel truck collided with their HMMWV while performing a convoy mission.

Killed were:

Sgt. 1st Class Robert V. Derenda, 42, of Ledbetter, Ky. Derenda was assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve’s 1st Brigade, 98th Division, Rochester, N.Y.

Sgt. 1st Class Brett E. Walden, 40, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Walden was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky.

For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.