The Department of Defense announced today a change in status of two soldiers listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown on June 25 to killed in action. The soldiers failed to respond to a radio check South of Balad, Iraq.  The soldiers’ remains were located on June 28 in Taji, Iraq.  The two soldiers are:

Sgt. 1^st Class Gladimir Philippe, 37, of Linden, N.J. and Pfc. Kevin C. Ott, 27, of Columbus, Ohio.

Both soldiers are assigned to Battery B, 3^rd Battalion, 18^th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla. The investigation is ongoing.