The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pvt. Kurt R. Frosheiser, 22, of Des Moines, Iowa, was killed on Nov. 8 in Baghdad, Iraq. Frosheiser was the driver of a vehicle on mounted patrol when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Frosheiser was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down on Nov. 7 in Tikrit, Iraq. There were six soldiers killed in action on board the helicopter. The names of four soldiers killed in the incident were previously announced on Nov. 9. Also killed were:

Capt. Benedict J. Smith, 29, of Monroe City, Mo. Smith was assigned to 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Command Sergeant Major Cornell W. Gilmore I, 45, of Baltimore, Md. Gilmore was assigned to the Judge Advocate General Office, Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon.

The incident is under investigation.