The Department of Defense recently announced the death of five 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to a press release from Fort Stewart.

Among the casualties was Spc. Alun R. Howells, 20, of Parlin, Colo. He died Aug. 13 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from enemy direct fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. Howells joined the Army December 2005 and arrived at Fort Stewart May 2006. He was an combat engineer.

Four Soldiers were killed Aug. 11 in Arab Jabour, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. William D. Scates, 31, of Oklahoma City. Scates joined the Army Jan. 1998 and arrived at Fort Stewart Feb. 2001. He was an infantryman.

Sgt. Scott L. Kirkpatrick, 26, of Reston, Va. Kirkpatrick joined the Army March 2004 and arrived at Fort Stewart Aug. 2004. He was an infantryman.

Sgt. Andrew W. Lancaster, 23, of Stockton, Ill. Lancaster joined the Army Oct. 2003 and arrived at Fort Stewart June 2006. He was an infantryman.

Spc. Justin O. Penrod, 24, of Mahomet, Ill. Penrod joined the Army Nov.

2005 and arrived at Fort Stewart May 2007. He was an infantryman.

Source: Fort Stewart PAO