The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Capt. John F. Kurth, 31, of Wis., died March 13 in Tikrit, Iraq, when his patrol encountered an improvised explosive device. Kurth was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, based in Schweinfurt, Germany. The incident is under investigation.

Spc. Jason C. Ford, 21, of Bowie, Md., died March 13 in Tikrit, Iraq, when his patrol encountered an improvised explosive device. Spc. Ford was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, based in Schweinfurt, Germany.

The incident is under investigation.