Military officials say an Iowan is among two U.S Army soldiers killed in an attack in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department says 25-year-old Sergeant James Skalberg Junior died on Wednesday when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in eastern Afghanistan's Wardak province.

Officials say 24-year-old 1st Lieutenant Stephen Prasnicki of Lexington, Virginia also died in the attack.

Skalberg graduated from Nishna Valley High School in 2005 and attended Peru State College in Nebraska. He joined the Army in 2007.
His wife, Jessica, told the Omaha World-Herald that he was a "loving, good-hearted man."

Skalberg is survived by his wife and son, Carter, of Red Oak Iowa; his parents and a sister, all of Cullman, Alabama; and other relatives.