SPRINGFIELD - Two Illinois soldiers have died in Afghanistan after their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in Kandahar, according to the Illinois Army National Guard.

Twenty-six-year-old Staff Sgt. Joshua Melton of Germantown and 43-year-old Sgt. Paul Smith of East Peoria died Friday, according to the national guard. Two other soldiers in the vehicle were injured.

It was Melton's second deployment after serving with Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004 to 2006. He graduated from Central Community High School in Breese in 2001 and enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in November 2000.

Melton was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry based in Marion.

Smith graduated from East Peoria Community High School in 1984 and enlisted in the Guard in April 1993. It was his third deployment, and he was in Iraq from 2003 to 2004 and from 2005 to 2006.

Smith was with Troop C, 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry based in Aurora.

Both soldiers had been in Afghanistan since October.

"Staff Sgt. Melton and Sgt. Smith were true patriots, answering the call to duty and supporting their fellow Soldiers during multiple deployments," said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard. "They are remarkable, devoted Soldiers who will always be our heroes."

No funeral arrangements have been announced.