The Department of Defense announced today the death of three 3rd Infantry Division soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died Tuesday, in Soltan Kheyl, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. A Facebook post by one of the victims' wife said it was an attack by a suicide bomber.

The soldiers were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID.

They were:

1st Lt. Jonam Russell, 25, of Cornville, Ariz. A maneuver fires and effects officer, he joined the Army in January 2011 and arrived at the unit in January 2013. This was his first deployment.

Sgt. Stefan M. Smith, 24 of Glennville. An infantryman, he joined the Army in November 2009 and arrived at the unit in June 2012. This was his first deployment.

Spc. Rob L. Nichols, 24, of Colorado Springs, Colo. An infantryman, he joined the Army in September 2010 and arrived at the unit in Jan. 2011. This was his first deployment.