The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

SSgt. Wentz Jerome Henry Shanaberger III, 33, of Naples, Fla., died March 24 in Iraq when he was investigating a suspicious vehicle and came under attack by individuals using small arms and an improvised explosive device (IED). SSgt. Shanaberger was assigned to the Army,s 21st Military Police Company, 16th Military Police Brigade, XVIIIth Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.

For further information related to this release, contact Army PublicAffairs at (703) 692-2000.