DoD Identifies Army Casualties
February 06, 2007

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Feb. 2 in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their Apache helicopter was forced to land during combat operations. Both soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Killed were:

Chief Warrant Officer Keith Yoakum, 41, of Hemet, Calif.

Chief Warrant Officer Jason G. Defrenn, 34, of Barnwell, S.C.

The incident is under investigation.

For additional information on these soldiers, contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993.