DoD Identifies Army Casualties
October 20, 2003

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Both soldiers were killed in action on Oct. 18 in Taza, Iraq, when enemy forces ambushed their patrol using rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire.  Killed were:

1^st Lt. David R. Bernstein, 24, of Phoenixville, Pa.

Pfc. John D. Hart, 20, of Bedford, Mass.

The soldiers were assigned to 1^st Battalion (Airborne), 508^th Infantry Regiment, 173^rd Infantry Brigade, Camp Ederle, Italy.

The incident is under investigation.