Army Staff Sgt. Kirk Owen

Died August 2, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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37, of Sapulpa, Okla.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard; died Aug. 2 in Lajah district, Paktya province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

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Third Okla. guardsman killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY —Department of Defense and Oklahoma National Guard officials say a third soldier has been killed in combat in Afghanistan.

Officials said Wednesday that Staff Sgt. Kirk A. Owen of Sapulpa died of wounds he suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Paktya province on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old Owen was a scout with the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Oklahoma National Guard.

Guard officials say two other members of the unit were killed when they were attacked by homemade bombs.

Thirty-three-year-old 2nd Lt. Jered Ewy of Edmond and 22-year-old Spc. Augustus Vicari of Broken Arrow died July 29 while conducting a dismounted patrol in Janak Kheyl, Afghanistan.

Guard officials say the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry has 800 soldiers.