Sgt. 1st Class Wyatt A. Goldsmith, 28, of Colville, Wash., died July 15, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered after enemy forces engaged his unit.

Goldsmith was assigned to A Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. This was Goldsmith’s third deployment in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.

Born in Redmond, Wash. on Sept. 21, 1982, Goldsmith entered the U.S. Army in June 2004 as a Special Forces recruit.

In October 2004, upon completion of basic training, advanced individual training and the basic airborne course at Fort Benning, Ga. he was assigned to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. Goldsmith attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 2005 and was selected to continue his training as medical sergeant in the Special Forces Qualification Course.

After graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2008, Goldsmith was assigned to 3rd Bn, 1st SFG (A) Joint Base Lewis-McChord as a Special Forces medical sergeant.

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.

His awards include Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device, Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, two Afghan Campaign Medals, three Iraqi Campaign Medals, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab and Combat Infantryman Badge.

He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

He is survived by his parents John and Lorie Goldsmith of Colville, Wash. and his sister Nicole.

At the time of his death, Goldsmith was a staff sergeant. He was posthumously promoted to sergeant first class.

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