HONOLULU (AP) — Two Hawaii based soldiers were killed in Iraq earlier this week when an Iraqi soldier fired a barrage of bullets at American troops.

They were the first American troops to die since President Barack Obama declared an end to combat operations in the country last week.

The Pentagon said Thursday Sgt. Philip C. Jenkins of Decatur, Ind., and Pfc. James F. McClamrock of Huntersville, N.C., died of wounds suffered from small arms fire in Balad on Tuesday.

They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Advise and Assist Brigade at Schofield Barracks.

Jenkins and McClamrock were providing security for a commander attending a meeting with Iraqi military personnel at a base about 130 miles north of Baghdad.