The Department of Defense confirmed today the death of two Fort Lewis soldiers who died Thursday in Jelewar, Afghanistan.

Spc. Gary L. Gooch Jr., 22, of Ocala, Fla. and Spc. Aaron S. Aamot, 22, of Custer, Wash., died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Aamot’s family told The Bellingham Herald Friday that their son and a fellow soldier died when Aamot drove his Stryker vehicle over a buried explosive. That story appeared in The News Tribune Saturday.

The DOD announcement of the death comes a day before a memorial service Tuesday for seven other members of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division unit killed Oct. 27 in Afghanistan. An eighth soldier from the Brigade also died that day. Washington's congressional delegation has been informed that Vice President Joe Biden will attend Tuesday's memorial.

The 5th Brigade deployed to Afghanistan in July. Twenty eight soldiers from the brigade have now been confirmed dead in southern Afghanistan.

According to Fort Lewis officials, Gooch enlisted in August 2006 and reported to Fort Benning, Ga. for training as a infantryman. He reported to Fort Lewis in January 2007 and was assigned to 5th Brigade as a grenadier. This was his first deployment.

According to unit records, Aamot enlisted in July 2006 in Seattle, and reported to Fort Benning for infantry training. He reported to Fort Lewis in December 2006, and was assigned to 5th Brigade as a Stryker vehicle driver. This was his first deployment. Aamot had been home on leave from Oct. 11 to Oct. 25, his family told the Bellingham Herald.