Nine Oklahoma soldiers have died in combat in Iraq and Afganistan

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The death of two Oklahoma soldiers overseas last week has brought the state's reported fatalities up to nine since combat in Iraq began. <br><br>Army Second Lieutenant Luke James

Monday, February 2nd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The death of two Oklahoma soldiers overseas last week has brought the state's reported fatalities up to nine since combat in Iraq began.

Army Second Lieutenant Luke James of Hooker, and Army Sergeant Kyle Seitsinger of Oklahoma City, were the state's latest deaths.

The 24-year-old James was killed January 27th, when a roadside bomb exploded just south of Baghdad.

Seitsinger - 29 - was killed Thursday when mortar rounds and rifle ammunition exploded in Afghanistan, about 90 miles southwest of Kabul.

Eighteen soldiers at Fort Sill - an Army installation in south central Oklahoma - have died since combat in Iraq began.

Nationally, one thousand-and-13 soldiers have been killed in Iraq and the Middle East, according to the Department of Defense.