The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Nov. 28 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when their unit was conducting a dismounted patrol and they encountered enemy forces using small arms fire. Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Howze, Korea.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Michael B. Shackelford, 25, of Grand Junction, Colo.

Sgt. Carl W. Lee, 23, of Oklahoma City, Okla.

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