Spec. Calvin Matthew Pereda, 21, died Saturday in Kandahar province from injuries he suffered when an improvised explosive device went off while he and his unit were on a dismounted patrol. Two others in the unit were wounded.
Sgt. 1st Class Johnathan B. McCain, 38, was killed Sunday while on a mounted patrol in the Kandahar province. A homemade explosive also injured six other soldiers in the unit, the Army said.
Both men served with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright
Pereda, originally from Fayetteville, N.C, joined the Army in March 2010 and first came to Alaska in August 2010.
McCain, originally from Apache Junction, Ariz., served as an infantry platoon sergeant. He joined the Army in April 1992 and served two previous combat tours of duty in Iraq, the Army said.
McCain and Pereda were at least the 17th and 18th members of the 4,000-soldier brigade to be killed in Afghanistan since it deployed in mid-April for a one-year tour.
The next of kin of both soldiers have been notified.
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