Staff Sgt. GOODWIN,Robert S., & Staff Sgt. OLAES, Tony B.

[Dan]

Without saying anything official...by posting this in here you can do the math. Will add more later as the details are officially released to the public.

Please keep these soldier's family members in your prayers and the other soldiers that were injured.

Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan - Two U.S. soldiers were killed today in a firefight with insurgents in a troubled southeastern Afghan province, the American military said.

Two other Americans and six Afghan government troops were wounded in the battle in Paktika province, a military statement said.

The names of the dead soldiers were being withheld until relatives could be informed, the statement said. It gave no further details of the incident.

[Doc]

Thoughts and prayers...

Doc

DOL

[Maas]

Prayers out to the family's.

[CommoGeek]

The official word is out, they were from 2/3. Blue Skies. DOL.

[Dan]

RELEASE NUMBER: 040922-01

DATE POSTED: SEPTEMBER 22, 2004

PRESS RELEASE: Special Forces sergeants killed in Afghanistan

U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Sept. 22, 2004) — A pair of Army Special Forces Soldiers based here died Sept. 20 in southeastern Afghanistan after enemy forces fired on their vehicle.

Staff Sgt. Robert S. Goodwin, 35, a Special Forces weapons sergeant, and Staff Sgt. Tony B. Olaes, 30, a Special Forces medical sergeant, were killed during a combat patrol near the town of Shkin in Afghanistan’s Paktika province when their vehicle came under fire from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.

Goodwin, a native of Albany, Ga., and Olaes, a native of Walhalla, S.C., were both assigned to the Fort Bragg-based 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Goodwin and Olaes most recently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in May 2004.

STAFF SGT. ROBERT S. GOODWIN

Goodwin enlisted in the Army in March 1989 as a medical specialist. After completing medical and airborne training, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., with assignment to the 44th Medical Brigade’s 36th Medical Company, and later the 261st Area Support Medical Battalion. After deploying in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Goodwin later served in Alaska and retrained as an infantryman prior to being selected in 2001 to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Goodwin’s military education includes the Special Forces Qualification Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, Jumpmaster Course and the Emergency Medical Technician Course.

Goodwin’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Expert Field Medical Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.

Goodwin is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and his son, Mathew.

STAFF SGT. TONY B. OLAES

Olaes enlisted in the South Carolina Army National Guard in 1992 and trained to be a man-portable air-defense system crewmember. He left the military in May 1998 and in 1999 he re-entered the Army on active duty. Olaes trained at Fort Jackson, S.C., to be a multi-channel transmissions system operator-maintainer as was assigned to the 35th Signal Brigade (Airborne) at Fort Bragg.

He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2001 and was then assigned to the 3rd SFG.

Olaes’ military education includes the Special Forces Qualification Course, Advanced Special Operations Techniques Course, Jumpmaster Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course and the Basic Airborne Course.

Olaes’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Medical Badge, Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.

Olaes is survived by his wife, Tammy, and their children, Maverick, McKenzie and Alec.


- usasoc -

[pulque]

prayers out for friends family and team

[The Reaper]

RIP, Brothers.

See you on the other side.

TR

[lrd]

RIP, gentlemen.

Thoughts and prayers going out to family and friends.

[Gypsy]

Rest in Peace, my thoughts and prayers for Family, Friends and your Brothers. Thank you for your service.

[Max_Tab]

Which road is JFK chapel on? I need to go there tomorrow, and I have never been to that one.

Thanks for the help.

[Dan]

Which road is JFK chapel on? I need to go there tomorrow, and I have never been to that one.

Thanks for the help.

It's on Ardennes Street...see item 13 (http://www.visitfayettevillenc.com/comm_bragg_map.htm)

[The Reaper]

Which road is JFK chapel on? I need to go there tomorrow, and I have never been to that one.

Thanks for the help.

It is in front of the SOAF, corner of Ardennes and Zabitowski.

TR

[37F5V]

RIP Warriors

[NousDefionsDoc]

En paz descansen mis hermanos. Dios les bendiga.

The only thing about this mission we
Disliked was knowledge that our failure to
Return would be a veil to hide our fate
Forever from the people who should know.
But even this could not put down our high
Excitement as we dropped into the pit
Of night and listened, after parachutes
Were open, to the fading motors of the plane,
Remembering the pilot's grin
And the good luck sign already a vision from the past.
Whatever ground it was that rose to meet
Our groping feet, you may be sure it gave
Us all the cloak and dagger stuff that we'd been itching for.
In secret files, in secret hearts.

Joseph A. Bourdow OSS
Infantry Journal , June 1948

[luvanwilder]

My OPS SGT was a good friend of these guys and is currently escorting the bodies home to be what has to be done. I understand both of these men were outstanding soldiers and warriors. The world is a lesser place for their loss. RIP Gentlemen and thank you for what you did for all of us.

[Max_Tab]

Thanks for the help.

[Max_Tab]

I went to the memorial service today at JFK Chapel. It was very good, but very emotional. My prayers and thoughts go out to the family's.

[Viking]

RIP Tony and Stacy. You guys will always be remembered. Until we meet again.

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

RIP warriors!