FORT CARSON, Colo. -- The Pentagon confirmed Wednesday two soldiers assigned to a unit that is moving to Fort Carson were killed when a homemade bomb exploded near their Humvee in Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Thor H. Ingraham, 24, of Murrysville, Pa., and Pfc. Nicolas E. Messmer, 20, of Franklin, Ohio, were killed Sunday in Khalidiyah.

Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division based at Camp Greaves, South Korea.

At least 57 soldiers from the 2nd Brigade and 51 other soldiers from Fort Carson-based units have died in Iraq.

Messmer joined the Army in August 2003, the summer after he graduated from Gahanna Lincoln High School in suburban Columbus, said his brother, Joe Messmer.

"He was the nicest, friendliest, happiest kid you could ever know. He wouldn't hurt a fly," Joe Messmer said. "He just went over there to defend his country and the Iraqis got him."

Nicolas Messmer was scheduled to return home in July for his birthday, his brother said.

Baker Company, of which the two soldiers were a part, was "adopted" about six months ago by a group of Colorado residents who have been sending them regular shipments of supplies.

The regiment is scheduled to return to the United States in September and will be based out of Fort Carson, Colo.