Capt Goetz, 43, of White, S.D.; was assigned to 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Aug. 30 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
Also killed in the attack were Army Pfc. Chad D. Clements, Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Infante, Army Staff Sgt. Kevin J. Kessler and Army Staff Sgt. Matthew J. West.
He is the first Army chaplain killed in action since 1970, during the Vietnam War.
From Army.mil Article; June 25, 2021
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Congressman Doug Lamborn, in conjunction with the United States Postal Service (USPS), held a ceremony July 23, that renamed the Briargate Post Office building located at 8585 Criterion Dr. in Colorado Springs, CO, to the Chaplain Captain Dale Goetz Post Office. The ceremony was held after Congressman Lamborn's bill (H.R. 4725) passed unanimously through the U.S. House and Senate in late 2020 and was signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on Dec. 21, 2020.
“Chaplain Dale Goetz paid the ultimate price in carrying out his sacred duty of ‘Caring for the Soul of the Army,’” said Maj. Gen. Thomas Solhjem, the U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains. “Chaplain Goetz exemplified the highest levels of commitment and self-sacrifice in ‘Bringing God to Soldiers and Soldiers to God’ in Afghanistan and everywhere he served. All of us who continue that same mission today, for Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardians are honored by this event, and by the recognition given to our colleague in ministry. We stand shoulder to shoulder in our own commitment to God and Country, to carry on the legacy of Chaplain Goetz, by ensuring that no one in our nation’s uniforms goes into harm’s way without spiritual support.”
“On behalf of the entire Goetz family, I'd like to thank Congressman Lamborn, the United States Post Office, and everyone involved in honoring Dale's life and legacy,” said Christy Goetz Bixby. “We are grateful and overwhelmed to witness today's ceremony and to be surrounded by those who have traveled from coast to coast to celebrate and honor our hero. Dale lived his life passionately, pursuing the Lord at every moment. His zeal for God's love was contagious. This post office is a fitting tribute in remembering our husband, father, son, brother, friend, and chaplain. We are honored.”
