Three Fort Stewart soldiers died Tuesday while deployed to Afghanistan.
The Department of Defense Thursday identified the soldiers as 1st Lt. Jonam Russell, Sgt. Stefan M. Smith and Spc. Rob L. Nichols.
They were killed in an improvised explosive device attack in Soltan Kheyl where they were operating while deployed with the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division’s 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
All three soldiers were serving their first deployments, said Kevin Larson, Fort Stewart spokesman.
Russell, 25, of Cornville, Ariz., was maneuver fires and effects officer. He joined the Army in January 2011 and was assigned to 3-15 in January.
Smith, 24, of Glennville, Ga., was an infantryman who joined the Army in November 2009. He joined the 3rd Infantry Division in June 2012.
Nichols, 24, of Colorado Springs, Colo., was also an infantryman. He joined the Army in September 2010 and was assigned to 3-15 in January 2011.
The soldiers were serving a nine-month tour in eastern Afghanistan with the 4th Brigade that began deploying in February.