DoD Identifies Army Casualties
October 19, 2006

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Oct. 15 in Samarra, Iraq, of injuries suffered when two land mines detonated near their HMMWV. Both soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Killed were:

Sgt. Lester D. Baroncini Jr., 33, of Bakersfield, Calif.

Pfc. Stephen D. Bicknell, 19, of Prattville, Ala.

For further information related to this release, contact the 82nd Airborne public affairs office at (910) 432-0661.