It's heartbreaking to read about so close to our 4th of July holiday, but the Department of Defense has announced the death of two U.S. soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

Both men served in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel. Both soldiers died on Tuesday, June 25th, in the Uruzgan Province of Afghanistan. Both men died as a result of wounds from a small arms firefight while actively engaged in combat according to the DOD as reported by News 10.

The deaths remain under investigation. The soldiers serving their country have been identified as:

Sgt. James G. Johnston, 24, of Trumansburg, New York. Johnston was assigned to 79th Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 71st Ordnance Group, and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.

The other soldier who passed away was Master Sgt. Micheal B. Riley, 32, of Heilbronn, Germany. Riley was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado.

Our prayers go out to both men, their families, and their friends back home. Please remember them, and all our soldiers, in your thoughts this 4th of July.

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