PATCH BARRACKS, Stuttgart-Vaihingen (16 Dec 99) - A U. S. soldier died early this
     morning from injuries sustained when the vehicle he was traveling in apparently struck a mine.

     The soldier was traveling as a passenger in a High-Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle
     (HMMWV) on a routine mission at approximately 9 p.m. last evening near Kosovska
     Kamenica, Kosovo when an explosion occurred.

     The injured soldier was evacuated by air ambulance to the 67th Combat Support Hospital at
     Camp Bondsteel for treatment and was pronounced dead at 1:42 a.m. today.

     The explosion also threw the driver out of the vehicle. He was evacuated by ground
     ambulance to Camp Bondsteel for observation.

     The deceased soldier was assigned to the U.S. Liaison and Coordination Element to the
     Russian 13th Tactical Group. Release of the soldier's name is pending notification of
     next-of-kin.

     Task Force Falcon is investigating the incident.