The Department of Defense announced today the death of two National Guard soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Task Force "All American" soldiers died as a result of their injuries on Jan. 24 after the convoy they were in was attacked with an improvised explosive device north of Fallujah, Iraq. Killed were:

Sgt. Keith L. Smette, 25, of Fargo, N.D.

Staff Sgt. Kenneth W. Hendrickson, 41, of Bismarck, N.D.

Both soldiers were assigned to 957th Engineer Company, 130th Engineer Brigade, Bismarck, N.D.

The incident is under investigation.