The Department of Defense announced Friday the death of a Fort Stewart soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey C. Baker, 29, of Hesperia, Calif., assigned to 766th Ordnance Company, 63rd Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance Group, Fort Stewart, died May 14, in Sanjaray, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked with an improvised explosive device. 

Baker, an explosive ordnance disposal specialist, joined the Army in October 2004. He was on his second deployment. His awards include the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals, both posthumous.

Two other soldiers, Spc. Mitchell K. Daehling, 24, of Dalton, Mass., and Spc. William J. Gilbert, 24, of Hacienda Heights, Calif., both assigned to 3rd Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, were also killed in the attack.