It is with my deepest sympathy and utmost respect that I announce to our Chaplain Corps that Chaplain (CPT) Dale A. Goetz was killed in action in Afghanistan on August 30, 2010 while serving as the Battalion Chaplain for 1-66th Armor Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. Dale was one of five Soldiers killed by an Improvised Explosive Device while traveling in a convoy near Kandahar Province. Chaplain Goetz is survived by his wife, Christy, and by their three sons--Landon, Caleb and Joel.
Chaplain Goetz is the first military chaplain killed in action in Iraq or Afghanistan. Dale was a selfless servant of God, a devoted husband and father, a strong American patriot, and a compassionate spiritual leader whose love for Soldiers was only surpassed by his firm commitment to living his calling as a United States Army Chaplain.
Please join with me in prayer for Christy, Landon, Caleb and Joel as we mourn with them in the loss of Dale, our fellow Soldier and Unit Ministry Team member. Let us also strive to honor Dale's sacrifice with a continuing bold commitment to ensure the finest religious support and pastoral care possible for our beloved Soldiers and their Families.
May God bless the Goetz Family and the Families of all our Fallen Soldiers; and, may God bless our Army and the United States of America.
PRO DEO ET PATRIA...FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!
DOUGLAS L. CARVER
Chaplain (Major General) US Army
Chief of Chaplains
[Editor's Note: It is with a sense of sadness that I report the death of Chaplain (Captain) Dale A. Goetz. Navy Chaplain, Lieutenant Commander Timothy Moore sent this message Wednesday evening.
Although Chaplain Goetz was not endorsed by the IPHC or the NAE Chaplains Commission, we mourn his untimely death. We are grateful to God for his obedience to the call to be a chaplain, and his willingness, if necessary to lay down his life while serving our country and his church. Our prayers and love go out not only to his wife, Christy, and by their three sons--Landon, Caleb and Joe, but to his parents, siblings, and other family members.
Our chaplains risk their lives daily as they serve our soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and guardsmen in harm's way. Dale now joins a host of heroes to whom this country owes a debt of gratitude it can never repay. Dale's death is a reminder of our need to provide a Prayer Shield over all of our chaplains and men and women who serve in the Armed Forces of our nation.
Posted on
Thu, September 2, 2010
by Hugh Morgan