The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

           

Three soldiers were killed in an ambush by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenade, on Sept. 18 in Tikrit, Iraq.  Killed were:

 

Sgt. Anthony O. Thompson, 26, of Orangeburg, S.C.

 

Spc. Richard Arriaga, 20, of Ganado, Texas

 

Spc. James C. Wright, 27, of Morgan, Texas

 

The soldiers were assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 4^th Battalion, 42^nd Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

 

Staff Sgt. Frederick L. Miller, Jr., 27, of Hagerstown, Ind., was killed on Sept. 20 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.  Miller was conducting a security patrol when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle.  Miller died of his injuries.

 

Miller was assigned to Troop K, 3^rd Squadron, 3^rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.

 

These incidents are under investigation.