Two US Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan Bomb Blast Identified

Two US service members supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel were killed last Friday after “improvised explosive device (IED) hit their vehicle in southern Afghanistan.” According to The Pentagon, the two soldiers killed were 29-year-old Staff Sgt. Ian P. McLaughlin of Newport News, Virginia; and 21-year-old Pfc. Miguel A. Villalon of Joliet, Illinois.

Fox News added that both of them “were conducting operations as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission.” “When our nation called for its best airborne combat engineers to deploy into harm’s way, Staff Sgt. McLaughlin and Pfc. Villalon answered without hesitation. They lived their motto, ‘Essayons,’ and embodied the values of the All-American engineer,” said Col. Art Sellers, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

Maj. Gen. James Mingus, the 82nd Airborne Division Commander, added in a statement, “These paratroopers represent the very best of our nation and our army. Three-time volunteers, they went when our nation called and paid the ultimate sacrifice. They will be honored, mourned, but never forgotten and we are committed to taking care of their families for life.”