The Department of Defense confirmed Tuesday that two Fort Drum soldiers, including a West Point graduate, were killed last week in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb.

The Pentagon identified the men as:

- Second Lieutenant David Rylander, 23, of Stow, Ohio (pictured above)

- Specialist Junot Cochilus, 34, of Charlotte, North Carolina (pictured below)

The soldiers were assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum.

The DOD said the men died of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. 

Second Lieutenant David Rylander was a May 2011 graduate of West Point Military Academy.

He arrived at Fort Drum in November 2011.

He deployed with his unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in January 2012.

Rylander's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the NATO Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge and the Parachutists Badge.

He completed the Small Arms Weapons and Airborne courses.

Rylander is survived by his mother, father, two brothers and  sister.

Specialist Junot Mevs Legrand Cochilus was a Combat Engineer.

Cochilus joined the Army in March 2010.

After training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, he arrived at Fort Drum in July 2011 and deployed with his unit in October 2011.

Cochilus's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the NATO Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Action Badge. He completed the Combat Life Savers course.

Cochilus is survived by his wife, child, mother, father and brother.

More information

Rylander Photo:  Courtesy of the Rylander family