DoD Identifies Army Casualties
June 21, 2009

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died June 19 in Kandahar, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when their vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Paul G. Smith, 43, of East 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 the Illinois National Guard public affairs office at (217) 761-3569.