IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 494-09

July 09, 2009

DoD Identifies Navy Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Darren Ethan Tate, 21, of Canyon, Texas died of non-hostile causes July 8 at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. He was assigned to the USS Iwo Jima, and deployed as an Individual Augmentee to Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan.

For further information related to this release, contact Naval Surface Forces Atlantic at (757) 836-3140 or email William.P.Taylor@navy.mil .