The Pentagon says soldiers from North Carolina and Florida have been killed in combat in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense says 25-year-old Staff Sgt. Justin C. Marquez, of Aberdeen, and 27-year-old Warrant Officer Joseph L. Schiro, of Coral Springs, Fla., were killed Saturday.

Officials say they died from gunshot wounds while participating in a patrol in the Wardak province of Afghanistan.

The men were assigned to the 1st Special Forces Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg.