Pentagon IDs Two Soldiers Who Died in Afghanistan

Photo: Master Sgt. Michael Riley and Sgt. James Johnston were killed in action in Afghanistan on Tuesday. (Army)

The Pentagon has identified the two soldiers, a Green Beret and an explosive ordnance disposal specialist, who died Tuesday in Afghanistan.

Master Sgt. Micheal B. Riley, 32, and Sgt. James G. Johnston, 24, died due to injuries from a small arms fire during combat operations in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan Province.

Riley, from Heilbronn, Germany, was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colorado. Johnston, from Trumansburg, New York, was assigned to the 79th Ordnance Battalion, 71st Ordnance Group at Fort Hood, Texas.

“Mike was an experienced Special Forces noncommissioned officer and the veteran of five previous deployments to Afghanistan,” Col. Lawrence G. Ferguson, the commander of the 10th Special Forces Group, said in a statement Thursday. “We will honor his service and sacrifice as we remain steadfast in our commitment to our mission.”

Riley awards include the Bronze Star and the Meritorious Service Medal. He first joined the Army in 2006.

“It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of Sgt. James Johnston. He was the epitome of what we as soldiers all aspire to be: intelligent, trained, always ready. We will honor his service and his sacrifice to this nation as we continue to protect others from explosive hazards around the world,” Lt. Col. Stacy M. Enyeart, his battalion commander, said in a release Thursday.

Johnston enlisted in 2013, according to the release, and had received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

The Pentagon announced Wednesday that two service members were killed in Afghanistan, but did not disclose the names because of Defense Department policy that prevents names of those killed in action from being released until 24 hours after next of kin in notified.

The Taliban took responsibility for their deaths, the New York Times reported Wednesday, at a time when the U.S. is locked in peace talks with the extremist group.