The Department of Defense announced today the death of one soldier and one Department of Army civilian employee who were supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

Sgt. Douglas J. Riney, 26, of Fairview, Illinois, and Michael G. Sauro, 40, of McAlester, Oklahoma, died Oct. 20 in Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds received from encountering hostile enemy forces.

Riney was assigned to the Support Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Sauro was assigned to the Defense Ammunition Center, McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, McAlester, Oklahoma.

For more information regarding Riney, media may contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at 254-287-9993 or 254-449-4023; after 5 p.m. CST, media queries may also be submitted at www.forthoodpresscenter.com. For more information regarding Sauro, media may contact the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant Public Affairs Officer, 918-420-6591, 918-916-0667 or kevin.b.jackson1.civ@mail.mil.