TEHACHAPI, Calif. -- The Department of Defense announced Sunday of the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died May 21 near Baghdad, Iraq of wound sustained when their unit was attacked by enemy forces using improvise explosive devices while on dismounted patrol.

The web-site for the Department of Defense said Major Jason E. George, 38, of Tehachapi was one of those victims.

He was an Army Reservist assigned to the 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The others have been identified as First Lieutenant Leevi K. Barnard, 28, of Mount Airy, N.C. He was a National Guardsman assigned to the 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, Fayetteville, North Carolina and Sgt. Paul F. Brooks, 34, of Joplin, Mo. He was a National Guardsman assigned to the 935th Aviation Support Battalion, Springfield, Missouri.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.