The Department of Defense announced Saturday the deaths of two soldiers in Afghanistan, including a Bamberg, Germany-based officer.

They died Wednesday, in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, of wounds suffered when their vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device.

Killed were 1st Lt. Stephen C. Prasnicki, 24, of Lexington, Va., assigned to 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team at Warner Barracks, Bamberg, Germany, and Sgt. James L. Skalberg Jr., 25, of Cullman, Ala., assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas.

Several media outlets reported that Prasnicki was a high school football standout who went on to play backup quarterback for West Point. His father told the Roanoke (Va.) Times that Prasnicki was not slated to go out on patrol, but volunteered.

An artilleryman, Skalberg leaves behind his wife, Jessica, and an 11-month-old son.

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