Fall River , Massachusetts ( CNN ) -- In a coastal city south of Boston , a community often known for its veterans is grappling with the loss of four young men who died this year while on active military duty . Army Sgt . Robert Barrett and Army Spec . Scott Andrews were both 21 years old when they were killed in Afghanistan , according to the city 's official veterans agent , Manuel DaPonte . Marine Cpl . Paul Fagundes , 29 , died in a swimming accident earlier this year near the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . And the city 's latest casualty , Army Spec . Ethan Goncalo , succumbed to injuries suffered in Afghanistan last week , just days before his scheduled return home , DaPonte said . He was also 21 years old . `` The city of Fall River has never ended its grieving process with this being the fourth military funeral this year , '' Fall River mayor William Flanagan told CNN affiliate WHDH . `` Especially given this news around the holiday season . '' Specialists Barrett and Andrews died within two months of each other . Like many grieving families across the country , their mothers at times question the war that has claimed both their sons ' lives . `` I know that our sons did not die in vain . Ours sons fought for freedom , '' said Andrews ' mother , Jo Ann Mello . `` They believed in what they were doing . But I 'm not so sure that I believe . '' Mello 's comments came as America 's top military official announced that the U.S. review of strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan `` shows us that we are on the right track , '' offering a personal glimpse into the homeland costs of a near-decade long conflict often fought in the harsh terrain of a country accustomed to war . `` I think we 're tired , '' said Barrett 's mother , Carlene . `` Enough 's enough , and it 's time for this to come to an end . '' Her son died from a suicide attack just south of Kabul International Airport earlier this year , according to icasualties.org , which notes military deaths . `` They say we 're fighting a war . We 're not fighting a war , '' she said . `` My son was n't fighting when he got killed . He was leaning against a truck and a suicide bomber got in on the base . '' Scott Andrews died from a bombing near Forward Operating Base Lagman , considered a key outpost for U.S. forces in eastern Afghanistan . `` It 's not always someone else 's son , '' Mello said . `` It 's ours . '' Her kitchen refrigerator is covered with photographs of the two men , recalling parades the city organized in efforts to honor the fallen soldiers . `` Remember that there are parents , families , mothers and fathers that are hurting individually , '' DaPonte said . `` The rest of the country need not forget , please do n't forget that we 're at war . '' On Thursday , President Obama said the United States is making significant progress in the nine-year war in Afghanistan , but warned that the conflict `` continues to be a very difficult endeavor . '' Obama said the U.S. is `` on track to achieve our goals '' of disrupting , dismantling and defeating al Qaeda and eroding `` its capacity to threaten America and our allies in the future , '' he said . The gains , however , are fragile . The president noted , among other things , that there has been a `` successful increase '' in the recruitment and training of Afghan forces due partly to the July 2011 deadline set by the administration to start withdrawing the U.S. military .
4 soldiers from Fall River have died this year while on active duty , officials say . Military mother : `` Enough 's enough and it 's time for this to come to an end '' Obama Thursday said the U.S. is making significant progress in the 9-year war in Afghanistan .