Baltimore Sun -- An infantryman from Baltimore was killed in action the month after he was deployed to Iraq, the Defense Department announced today.

Pfc. Jonathan V. Hamm, 20, was at a forward base in Baghdad Thursday when he was struck by "indirect enemy fire," according to the department.

Joseph Piek, an Army spokesman at Fort Lewis, Wash., said indirect fire likely means Hamm was hit by mortar fire or an artillery round.

Hamm was a member of the 11th Bravo infantry in the 2nd Batallion, 23rd Infantry regiment of the 4th Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division.

He joined the Army in November 2004 and arrived at Fort Lewis in April 2005, after basic training at Fort Benning, Ga.

Hamm was sent to Iraq just last month. It was his first deployment in that country, according to the Defense Department.

Piek said Hamm was listed as a high school graduate, but the spokesman did not know which school he attended.

No information about survivors was available yesterday, but Piek said Hamm was not listed as having been married.

Hamm had been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal and Army Service Medal, according to the Defense Department.