WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2004 — Defense Department officials announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 4th Infantry Division soldiers were killed in a mortar attack on a forward operating base near Ba'qubah the evening of Jan. 21. Killed were: Spc. Gabriel T. Palacios, 22, of Lynn, Mass. and Pfc. James D. Parker, 20, of Bryan, Texas. Both soldiers were assigned to the 588th Engineer Battalion (Heavy), 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. This incident is under investigation.