The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their unit while on patrol during combat operations in Baghdad , Iraq , on Dec. 7. Both soldiers were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson , Alaska .

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Henry W. Linck, 23, of Manhattan , Kan.

Spc. Micah S. Gifford, 27, of Redding , Calif.

Staff Sgt. James Kristofer R. Ciraso, 26, of Bangor , Maine , died of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle in Baghdad , Iraq , on Dec. 7. Ciraso was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood , Texas .

Staff Sgt. Kristofer R. Ciraso, 26, of Bangor , Maine , died of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle in Baghdad , Iraq , on Dec. 7. Ciraso was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood , Texas .