DoD Identifies Army Casualties
January 10, 2008

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Jan. 8 of wounds sustained during combat operations in Samarra, Iraq. The incident is under investigation. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Killed were:

Sgt. David J. Hart, 22, of Lake View Terrace, Calif., who died in Balad, Iraq.

Pfc. Ivan E. Merlo, 19, of San Marcos, Calif., who died in Samarra, Iraq.

Pfc. Phillip J. Pannier, 20, of Washburn, Ill., who died in Samarra, Iraq.

For more information media may contact the Fort Campbell public affairs office at (270) 798-9966.