WASHINGTON (May 4, 2009)-- Two Fort Hood soldiers died in an insurgent attack on Friday in Afghanistan and another soldier was missing after the attack.

Fort Hood Sgt. James D. Pirtle, 21, of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Spc. Ryan C. King, 22, of Dallas, Ga. were killed in the direct fire attack in Nishagam, in Konar Province, Afghanistan, the military said Monday.

They were both assigned to the 1st Infantry Division’s Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

Pirtle was signals intelligence analyst who joined the Army in July 2006, Fort Hood said.

His decorations included the Bronze Star Medal.

King, who joined the Army in November 2005, was a common ground station operator, Fort Hood said.

They both deployed to Afghanistan in June 2008.

Staff Sgt. William D. Vile, 27, of Philadelphia, Pa. was listed as Duty Status, Whereabouts Unknown, after the same incident, the military said.

He is assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.