DOD IDENTIFIES ARMY CASUALTIES

May 19, 2003

The Department of Defense announced today that Master Sgt. William L. Payne, 46, of Michigan, was killed May 16, in Haswah, Iraq. Payne was examining unexploded ordnance when the ordnance exploded causing his death. 

Payne was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, Fort Riley, Kan. The incident is under investigation.

The Department of Defense also announced today that Spc. Rasheed Sahib, 22, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was killed on May 18, in Balad, Iraq. Sahib and another soldier were cleaning their weapons when the other soldier’s weapon discharged striking Sahib in the chest.

Sahib was assigned to 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. The incident is under investigation.