Two Georgia Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

The Department of Defense says two members of the Georgia National Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade have been killed in action in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon says the two were killed on Monday. They are identified as 25-year-old Sgt. Brock Henry Chavers Sr. of Statesboro, who was assigned to Americus' Company D, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry, and 24-year-old Spc. Isaac Lee Johnson Jr. of Columbus, assigned to Rome's Troop A, 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron.

Defense officials say they died July 6 of wounds from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near Kunduz.

Georgia National Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade Heads To Afghanistan

Lt. Col. Kenneth Baldowski says about 2,400 of the Georgia National Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade will be heading for a one-year deployment to Afghanistan in the coming months.

Citizen soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 108th Cavalry Regiment will head to Ft. Polk, La., next month for training. Guard spokesman Baldowski said Tuesday that once in Afghanistan, the Georgia Guard members will be training Afghan police and military forces. Baldowski said the brigade's soldiers will deploy overseas in waves between March and June.

The 48th Brigade spent a year deployed to Iraq in 2005. The brigade of 4,000 troops is headquartered in Macon, with units based across the state.

(Associated Press)