TRENTON - Two soldiers from North Jersey died days apart in Afghanistan, the Defense Department said Monday.
Spc. Jonathan Batista, 22, of Kinnelon, died Sunday in Zharay, part of Kandahar province, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire. Batista was assigned to the Second Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, Fourth Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Batista's death came four days after Staff Sgt. Raul Guerra, 37, of Union City, died in Spin Boldak. A cause of death was not disclosed for Guerra, who was assigned to the 502d Military Intelligence Battalion, 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. - AP
