US military deaths in Afghanistan at 1,828

As of Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at least 1,828 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count.

The AP count is six more than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Tuesday at 10 a.m. EDT.

At least 1,520 military service members have died in Afghanistan as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

Outside of Afghanistan, the department reports at least 111 more members of the U.S. military died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Of those, 12 were the result of hostile action.

The AP count of total OEF casualties outside of Afghanistan is two more than the department's tally.

The Defense Department also counts three military civilian deaths.

Since the start of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, 15,786 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department.

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The latest identifications reported by the military:

— Pfc. Christian R. Sannicolas, 20, Anaheim, Calif.; died April 28 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device; assigned to 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

— Master Sgt. Scott E. Pruitt, 38, of Gautier, Miss.; died April 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan; assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

— Two soldiers died April 26 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., assigned to 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; and Sgt. Dick A. Lee Jr., 31, of Orange Park, Fla., assigned to 95th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Sembach, Germany.

— Lt. Christopher E. Mosko, 28, of Pittsford, N.Y.; died April 26 while conducting combat operations in Ghazni province, Afghanistan; assigned as a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Platoon Commander to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, Afghanistan; stationed at EOD Mobile Unit 3, San Diego, Calif.

— Spc. Jason K. Edens, 22, of Franklin, Tenn.; died April 26 in Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained April 15, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when the enemy attacked his unit with small arms fire; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

— Staff Sgt. Andrew T. Brittonmihalo, 25, of Simi Valley, Calif.; died April 25 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from small arms fire; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

— Spc. Moises J. Gonzalez, 29, Huntington, Calif.; died April 25 in Balkh province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle rolled over; assigned to the 509th Combat Service Support Company, 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

— Spc. Benjamin H. Neal, 21, of Orfordville, Wis.; died April 25 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

— Spc. Manuel J. Vasquez, 22, of West Sacramento, Calif.; died April 24 in Paktika province, Afghanistan; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany.

— Two soldiers died April 22 in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device; they were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; killed were: 1st Lt. Jonathan P. Walsh, 28, Cobb, Ga.; and Pfc. Michael J. Metcalf, 22, Boynton Beach, Fla.

— Four soldiers died April 19 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when their Black Hawk (UH-60) crashed; they were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii; 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.

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Online:

http://www.defense.gov/news/