Beale, Joshua Zachary
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Joshua Zachary Beale, 32, of Carrollton, Virginia, was killed by small arms fire on January 22, 2019, in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, while serving with the 3rd Special Forces Group.
Their Story
Sergeant First Class Joshua Zachary Beale was a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. A native of Carrollton, Virginia, he was 32 years old at the time of his final deployment to Afghanistan.
Beale died on January 22, 2019, in the Tarin Kowt district of Afghanistan's Uruzgan province. According to U.S. military reports, he was fatally wounded by enemy small arms fire during a combat operation. The incident was under investigation by U.S. Forces-Afghanistan.
His death occurred during Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the official name for the U.S. mission in Afghanistan from 2015 to 2021. This phase followed the larger Operation Enduring Freedom and focused on counterterrorism and training Afghan forces. The conflict in Uruzgan province involved persistent engagements with Taliban and other insurgent groups.
The Pentagon announced his death the following day. Beale was posthumously promoted from Staff Sergeant to Sergeant First Class. He was survived by his wife and two children.
Beale was a decorated soldier. His service awards included the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Meritorious Service Medal. He had previously deployed to Afghanistan multiple times.
Explore Further
Beale, Joshua Zachary was killed during Operation Freedom's Sentinel (ongoing since January 2015). The conflict is ongoing. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Golden, Jonathan Joseph, Gonzalez, Jose Juan, Sanchez, Maria Victoria, Dawson, John Michael.
