The Department of Defense announced today the death of five soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died June 9, in Gaza Village, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered while engaged in a combat operation. The incident is under investigation.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund, 24, of Pasadena, California;

Staff Sgt. Jason A. McDonald, 28, of Butler, Georgia;

Spc. Justin R. Helton, 25, of Beaver, Ohio;

Cpl. Justin R. Clouse, 22, of Sprague, Washington; and

Pvt. 2nd Class Aaron S. Toppen, 19, of Mokena, Illinois.

Staff Sgt. Studenmund and Staff Sgt. McDonald were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Spc. Helton was assigned to the 18th Ordnance Company, 192nd Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Cpl. Clouse and Pvt. 2nd Class Toppen were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

For more information regarding Staff Sgt. Studenmund and Staff Sgt. McDonald, media may contact the U.S. Army Special Forces Command public affairs office during duty hours at 910-908-3947 or after duty hours at 910-689-6187. For more information regarding Spc. Helton, media may contact the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) public affairs office during duty hours at 410-436-3433 or after duty hours at 410-436-6200. For more information regarding Cpl. Clouse and Pvt. 2nd Class Toppen, media may contact the Fort Carson public affairs office during duty hours at719-526-4143 or after duty hours at 719-526-5500 and ask for the on-duty public affairs officer.