Of the seven soldiers killed Monday in Afghanistan, six are from the 3rd Infantry Division.

Five of those soldiers stationed at Hunter Army Airfield were killed when their helicopter crashed in Southern Afghanistan. The crash cause still is under investigation.

The soldiers' identities have not been released yet.

Also on Wednesday, the Department of Defense announced the death of a 3rd Infantry Division Soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

He died March 11 in Jalrez District, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when he was attacked by small arms fire.

Killed was Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad, 26, of Edmond, Okla. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID.

An infantryman, Staff Sgt. Schad joined the Army in February 2006 and arrived at his unit in March 2011. This was his second deployment.

For a longer version of this story, see Friday's Coastal Courier.