Army Staff Sgt. Wyatt A. Goldsmith, 28, of Colville, Wash.
SSgt Goldsmith was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; died July 15, 2011 at Camp Bastion Hospital, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with rocket-propelled grenade fire in Helmand province.
SSgt Goldsmith was serving his third deployment at the time of his death. He was treating an Afghan commando at the time of the attack.
Goldsmith was a heavily decorated Green Beret. He received his first Purple Heart in 2010 when he was shot in the foot by insurgents. He ignored the wound and continued to treat other soldiers.
SSgt Goldsmith was a graduate of Colville High School where he played on the soccer team. He joined the Army in 2004 as a Special Forces recruit. He completed Basic Training in October 2004 at Fort Benning, and went on to complete his training as a medical sergeant in the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2008.
SSgt Goldsmith's military education includes the Special Forces Medical Sergeant Course; Military Freefall Parachutist Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course; Basic Airborne Course; Advanced Leaders Course, and the Warrior Leader Course.
David Rarrick, Goldsmith’s former soccer coach said,
“All of the great things he did in high school were amplified as an adult, his service to his country, fighting for a lot of things we take for granted."
"It was a pleasure to have known him,” said Ryan Egland, a high school friend and teammate.
SSgt Goldsmith's awards and decorations include:
Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal (2)
Army Good conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign star
Iraqi Campaign Medal with two campaign stars
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
NATO Medal
Parachutist Bedge
Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
Special Forces Tab
Combat Infantryman Badge
SSgt Goldsmith is survived by his parents, Lorie and John and sister, Nicole.
Army Staff Sgt. Wyatt A. Goldsmith was killed in action on 7/15/11.
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