The Department of Defense said Monday that a soldier from Fresno was killed in Iraq on April 18.

Cpl. Michael M. Rojas, 21, died in Taji, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

SLIDESHOW: In The Line Of Duty

Cpl. Wade J. Oglesby, 27, of Grand Junction, Colo., was also killed in the explosion.

The pair were on a combat mission.

They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

This month alone, three Bay Area soldiers were killed in Iraq.

Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Williams, of Santa Rosa, died on April 8. Williams was killed by a sniper's bullet last week.

SLIDESHOW: Williams Family Photos

Williams was 25 years old and on his second tour of duty. He leaves behind a wife, Sonya, and an 11-month-old daughter, Amaya. His wife said Amaya was the pride of his life.

Sgt. Mario K. De Leon, 26, died April 16 from wounds he suffered from enemy small-arms fire, according to the Department of Defense.

De Leon was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany.

He leaves behind a wife and 2-year-old son in Rohnert Park.

Some members of De Leon's family said it is time for U.S. soldiers to come home.

"We're losing our loved ones here, and now my nephew is not going to be able to see Daddy," said Claudia Salgado, a relative of De Leon.

Pcf. James J. Coon, from Walnut Creek, was killed on April 4 after being shot in the head by a sniper's bullet.

SLIDESHOW: Coon Family Photos

Coon graduated from Las Lomas High School in 2003. His funeral was this past Saturday in Walnut Creek.