16 Heroes Who Died Fighting in the Afghanistan War April 18 to April 26, 2012

April 18 - Capt. Michael C. Braden, 31, of Lock Haven, Pa., died in Bagram, Afghanistan.

April 19 - They died in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when their Black Hawk (UH-60) crashed. Killed were:
- Chief Warrant Officer Nicholas S. Johnson, 27, of San Diego, Calif.
- Chief Warrant Officer Don C. Viray, 25, of Waipahu, Hawaii.
- Sgt. Chris J. Workman, 33, of Boise, Idaho.
- Sgt. Dean R. Shaffer, 23, of Pekin, Ill.

April 22 - Staff Sgt. Joseph H. Fankhauser, 30, of Mason, Texas, died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

They died in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. Killed were:
- 1st Lt. Jonathan P. Walsh, 28, Cobb, Ga.
- Pfc. Michael J. Metcalf, 22, Boynton Beach, Fla.

April 24 - Spc. Manuel J. Vasquez, 22, of West Sacramento, Calif., died in Paktika province, Afghanistan.

April 25 - Spc. Benjamin H. Neal, 21, of Orfordville, Wis., died in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
- Spc. Moises J. Gonzalez, 29, Huntington, Calif., died in Balkh province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle rolled over.
- Staff Sgt. Andrew T. Brittonmihalo, 25, of Simi Valley, Calif., died in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from small arms fire

April 26 - Spc. Jason K. Edens, 22, of Franklin, Tenn., died in Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained April 15, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when the enemy attacked his unit with small arms fire.
- Lt. Christopher E. Mosko, 28, of Pittsford, N.Y., died while conducting combat operations in Nawa district, Ghazni province, Afghanistan.

They died in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Killed were:
- Staff Sgt. Brandon F. Eggleston, 29, of Candler, N.C.
- Sgt. Dick A. Lee Jr., 31, of Orange Park, Fla.  

NOTE: This month shows a big uptick in U.S. deaths in Afghanistan over the last six months. The total of 31 American military lost is the highest it has been since September 2011, when 37 American military men were killed. Four of the months between September 2011 and April 2012 had casualties of under 20 (November and December 2011, February and March 2012). October 2011 had 28 Americans lost and January 2012 had 26.