IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 115-09
February 22, 2009
DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Jeremy E. Bessa, 26, of Woodridge IL, died Feb. 20, in Khordi, Afghanistan, when his military vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device followed by small arms fire attack by enemy forces.

Master Sgt. David L. Hurt, 36, of Tucson, AZ, died Feb. 20, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from wounds received during the same incident.

They were assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

For more information media may contact the U.S. Army Special Operations Command public affairs office at (910) 432-6005; (910) 689-6187 after hours, or visit (http://news.soc.mil).