Goetz, Dale Alan
Male
Verified U.S. Army Captain Dale Alan Goetz, 43, of Hood River, Oregon, died on August 30, 2010, in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment.
Their Story
Dale Alan Goetz was a 43-year-old U.S. Army captain from Hood River, Oregon. He was assigned as a chaplain to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Carson, Colorado.
On August 30, 2010, Goetz was traveling in a convoy in the Arghandab River Valley of Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. His vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. He and four other soldiers were killed in the blast.
Goetz's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In late 2009, a troop surge was ordered, and his unit was part of a significant push into the Taliban-influenced Arghandab Valley in 2010.
The Department of Defense announced his death the following day. He was the first U.S. military chaplain to be killed in action since the Vietnam War. A memorial service was held at Fort Carson.
Captain Goetz was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. He is remembered for his service as a chaplain, a role dedicated to providing spiritual support to soldiers in a combat zone.
Explore Further
Captain Goetz was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
