IMMEDIATE RELEASE

No. 314-09

May 11, 2009

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pvt. Justin P. Hartford, 21, of Elmira, N.Y., died May 8 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to the 699th Maintenance Company, Corps Support Battalion, 916th Support Brigade, Fort Irwin, Calif. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

For more information the media may contact the Fort Irwin Public Affairs Office at (760) 380-5960 // 2909, or, after hours, (760) 963-0323