The Department of Defense announced today the death of seven soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Sept. 18 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter they were in went down in the vicinity of Tallil, Iraq.

 

            Killed were:

 

            Chief Warrant Officer Corry A. Edwards, 38, of Kennedale, Texas, who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Texas Army National Guard, Grand Prairie, Texas.

 

            Sgt. Daniel M. Eshbaugh, 43, of Norman, Okla., who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Oklahoma National Guard, Lexington, Okla.

 

            Staff Sgt. Anthony L. Mason, 37, of Springtown, Texas, who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Texas Army National Guard, Grand Prairie, Texas.

 

            Sgt. Maj. Julio C. Ordonez, 54, of San Antonio, who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Texas Army National Guard, Grand Prairie, Texas.

 

            Chief Warrant Officer Brady J. Rudolf, 37, of Oklahoma City, who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Oklahoma National Guard, Lexington, Okla.

 

            Cpl. Michael E. Thompson, 23, of Harrah, Okla., who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Oklahoma National Guard, Lexington, Okla.

 

            1st Lt. Robert Vallejo II, 28, of Richland Hills, Texas, who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Texas Army National Guard, Grand Prairie, Texas.

 

            The incident is under investigation.

 

            For information on Edwards, Mason, Ordonez and Vallejo, media may contact the Texas National Guard public affairs office at (512) 782-1034 or (512) 782-5050.

 

            For information on Eshbaugh, Rudolf and Thompson, media may contact the Oklahoma National Guard public affairs office at (405) 228-5212.