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

Staff Sgt. Juan De Dios Garcia-Arana, 27, of Los Angeles, Calif., died April 30 in Khaladiyah, Iraq, when his Bradley Fighting Vehicle was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire. Garcia-Arana was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Hovey, Korea.

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