DOD Identifies Army Casualties
July 18, 2011

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

They died July 17, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Killed were:

Master Sgt. Kenneth B. Elwell, 33, of Holland, Pa.; and

Pfc. Tyler M. Springmann, 19, of Hartland, Maine.

For more information the media may contact the U.S. Army Alaska public affairs office at 907-384-1542 or 907-384-2072.

UPDATE: July 19, 2011 — Sgt. 1st Class Elwell was posthumously promoted to master sergeant.

CORRECTION: July 20, 2011 — Pfc. Springmann’s name corrected from Springman.