4 Ind. soldiers killed in Afghanistan

INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) - Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Indiana National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger were officially notified of the deaths of four Indiana National Guard Soldiers serving in Afghanistan Saturday.

According to the Joint Forces Headquarters of the Indiana National Guard, Staff Sgt. Jonathan M. Metzger of Indianapolis, Indiana, Spc. Brian J. Leonhardt of Merrillville, Indiana, Spc. Christopher A. Patterson of Aurora, Illinois and Spc. Robert J. Tauteris Jr. of Hamlet, Indiana were the fallen members of the 713th Engineer Company headquartered in Valparaiso, Ind., and were conducting combat route clearance operations when they were killed.

"This morning, I received from the adjutant general the news a person in my job dreads the most, that we have lost soldiers in combat. I had begun to hope that I had received the last such phone call, and cannot convey the sadness which it instantly brought," said Gov. Daniels.

The Indiana National Guard is America's finest, reflected in its numbers, leadership, but mostly in the quality of the men and women it comprises.  My prayers are joined with those of millions of Hoosiers who will hear this terrible news with deep grief but also with gratitude for the courage of those we have lost, and pride that we come from a state that produces men such as these," said Daniels.

"I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of these brave citizen-soldiers. I continue to be humbled and honored by the courageousness of gallant young men and women who wear the uniform of this nation, willingly going into harm's way, to protect and defend our freedoms and the freedom of others," said Major General Umbarger. "We will honor their sacrifice and always remember them."

The Joint Forces Headquarters of the Indiana National Guard did not give specific information about where the troops were in Afghanistan or of the circumstances that lead to their deaths.