DOD Identifies Army Casualties
January 09, 2011

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died Jan. 7 of wounds suffered at Logar province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked their unit using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.

Killed were:

Sgt. Ethan C. Hardin, 25, of Fayetteville, Ark., and

Pfc. Ira B. Laningham, IV, 22, of Zapata, Texas.

For more information, the media may contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at 315-772-8286.

UPDATE: Jan. 11, 2011 — Spc. Hardin was posthumously promoted to sergeant.