Two American troops killed in Afghanistan

Two American troops were killed in Afghanistan over the weekend. Deployed with the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kansas, they were serving in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, reported MoveAmericaForward.org.

The Army Times published the tragic news right here at Thanksgiving:

Two soldiers from Fort Riley's 1st Infantry Division have been killed while deployed to Paktika Province in Afghanistan.

The division issued a release Monday saying Sgt. Channing Hicks and Spc. Joseph Richardson were killed Friday when they were attacked by militants using roadside bombs and small-arms fire. Both men were assigned to 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry of the division's 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and were on their first deployment to Afghanistan.

The 24-year-old Hicks was from Greer, S.C., and joined the Army in June 2006. He had two previous deployments to Iraq.

Richardson, 23, was from Booneville, Ark., and joined his unit in October 2008. He had one previous deployment to Iraq with the 1st Infantry Division.

MoveAmericaForward.org noted that the war in Afghanistan is real and dangerous for our troops serving overseas. They went on to say:

It's always with great sadness that we have to report about the deaths of our troops. But we can't ignore their sacrifices either. We have to recognize that these young men and women are so brave because they know they're volunteering for a dangerous job -- defending our homeland and our way of life. So please remember to pray for our troops in harm's way this Thanksgiving, and give thanks to them for the sacrifices they are making on our behalf.

Freedom is not free....