The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. James M. Wosika Jr., 24, of St. Paul, Minn., died Jan. 9 in Fallujah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on combat patrol. Wosika was assigned to the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry, Crookston, Minn.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Minnesota Army National Guard public affairs office at (651) 282-4684.