Military

          The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  They died in Bayji, Iraq on Nov. 19, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV during combat operations.  The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

            Killed were:

            1st Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, 23, of Freehold, N.J.

            Staff Sgt. Edward Karolasz, 25, of Powder Springs, N.J.

            Cpl. Jonathan F. Blair, 21, of Fort Wayne, Ind.

            Spc. Dominic J. Hinton, 24, of Jacksonville, Texas.

            For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.