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IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 305-12
April 24, 2012

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

            The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died April 19, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when their Black Hawk (UH-60) crashed.  The soldiers 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.

            For more information related to this release, media may contact the 25th Infantry Division public affairs office at 808-655-6351.

            CORRECTION:  April 24, 2011 -- The unit name is corrected from 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.