Two Soldiers Killed and One Missing in Action in Afghanistan (UPDATE)

The soldier who is missing, William Vile, is assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

The Kunar Province of Afghanistan Salem-News.com photo by Tim King

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Department of Defense reported the death of two soldiers in Afghanistan today, and they stated earlier that a third soldier was missing in action. Officials now state that they have recovered the body of the third soldier who had been missing.

The action leading the the death of the two soldiers and
the initial disappearance and subsequent death of the other, occurred May 1 near
the village of Nishagam, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, where all three were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. James D. Pirtle

Sergeant James D. Pirtle, 21, of Colorado Springs, Colorado was killed in the attack.

He was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 3rd
Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Specialist Ryan C. King, 22, of Dallas, Georgia was also killed May 1st 2009.

He was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

The military explains that these soldiers died of wounds that they suffered when insurgents attacked their unit using direct fire.

Staff Sergeant William D. Vile, 27, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who was previously missing, died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using direct fire May 1 near the village of Nishagam, in Konar Province, Afghanistan.

He was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

I filed video reports from the Kunar Province of Afghanistan during the winter of 2006/2007. These are being publishing here again to give viewers an idea of what the Kunar Province looks like:

Camp Joyce: Remote Fire Base Near Afghanistan-Pakistan Border

Rough Road Through the Pesh Valley

Video

A Man of God and War in Afghanistan

Afghanistan Base Called The Lumberyard