IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN: American casualties identified

The Defense Defense has identified a Los Angeles soldier killed in Iraq and four soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Du Hai Tran, 30, of the Reseda neighborhood was killed by a roadside bomb Friday in Baqubah, Iraq, during combat operations. He was assigned to the Fires Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. At least 4,109 U.S. service members have died since the Iraq war began in 2003.

A roadside bomb and gunfire killed four soldiers Saturday in Kandahar, Afghanistan:

Lt. Col. James J. Walton, 41, of Rockville, Md., who was assigned to a Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Ft. Riley, Kan.

Spc. Anthony L. Mangano, 36, of Greenlawn, N.Y.; Sgt. Nelson D. Rodriguez Ramirez, 22, of Revere, Mass.; and Sgt. Andrew Seabrooks, 36, of Queens, N.Y., who were assigned to 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition), New York Army National Guard, Geneva, N.Y. At least 531 American military personnel have died since the Afghanistan war began in 2001.

*Read about increased insurgent attacks in Afghanistan here.