DoD Identifies Army Casualties
June 06, 2007

The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died June 3 in Thania, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Greg P. Gagarin, 38, of Los Angeles.

Sgt. James C. Akin, 23, of Albuquerque, N.M.

Sgt. Tyler J. Kritz, 21, of Eagle River, Wis.

Sgt. Robert A. Surber, 24, of Inverness, Fla.

For more information related to this release the media may contact the Fort Lewis public affairs office at (253) 967-0152 or (253) 967-0147.