DoD Identifies Army Casualties
May 24, 2009

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died May 21 near Baghdad, Iraq of wound sustained when their unit was attacked by enemy forces using improvise explosive devices while on dismounted patrol.

Killed were:

Maj. Jason E. George, 38, of Tehachapi, Calif. He was an Army Reservist assigned to the 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

1st Lt. Leevi K. Barnard, 28, of Mount Airy, N.C. He was a National Guardsman assigned to the 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Staff Sgt. Paul F. Brooks, 34, of Joplin, Mo. He was a National Guardsman assigned to the 935th Aviation Support Battalion, Springfield, Missouri.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

For more information on Barnard, media may contact the North Carolina National Guard public affairs office at (919) 664-6242 or after duty hours (919) 664-6531.

For more information on Brooks, media may contact the Missouri National Guard public affairs office at (573) 638-9846 or (888) 526-6664 ext. 9846.

For more information regarding George, media may contact Lt. Col. Maria Quon or Master Sgt. Keith O’Donnell at Human Resources Command-St. Louis, Mo. at (314) 592-0000 ext. 42007 or 43559.