The Pentagon on Monday released the names of three U.S. soldiers who were killed by an Afghan soldier in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday.
The American troops were Sgt. Eric M. Houck, 25, of Baltimore, Md.; Sgt. William M. Bays, 29, of Barstow, Calif.; and Corporal Dillon C. Baldridge, 22, of Youngsville, N.C., according to a Pentagon press release.
The three men, supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel, were assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Company D, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rdBrigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
They were killed and another soldier was wounded when a member of the Afghan National Army's Commando Forces opened fire during a joint U.S.-Afghan military operation in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, NBC News reported. The assailant was killed by return fire.
President Donald Trump was briefed on the situation, according to a White House official, and Vice President Mike Pence offered condolences.
"When heroes fall, Americans grieve and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these American heroes," Pence said.
The attack on Saturday follows a similar incident in March when an Afghan soldier shot three U.S. soldiers at the NATO base in Helmand province.