Two deployed to Afghanistan die

FORT DRUM — Two 10th Mountain Division soldiers died last week while deployed to Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Monday afternoon.

The two soldiers died in separate incidents. Both were with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team that deployed to Afghanistan in January.

Sgt. Jerry R. Evans, 23, died Friday following an improvised explosive device attack in Wardak Province. Sgt. Evans, Eufaula, Ala., was an infantryman assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

Sgt. Evans joined the Army in June 2005 and came to Fort Drum in December 2005. This was his second deployment with the 3rd Brigade.

His awards include two Purple Hearts, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He is survived by his parents and sister.

Spc. Matthew K.S. Swanson, 20, died Saturday following a vehicle rollover accident July 19. The accident happened in Logar Province and he was flown back to the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., for medical care.

The rollover incident is under investigation.

Spc. Swanson, Lake Forest, Calif., was a combat engineer with the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. He joined the Army in October 2007 and came to Fort Drum in May 2008. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. He is survived by his parents and sister.

Sgt. Evans and Spc. Swanson are the 19th and 20th soldiers with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team to die since the deployment began. The unit of 3,500 soldiers is set to return to the U.S. in January.