A New Jersey soldier was killed Monday during combat in Afghanistan, according to a statement from the U.S. military.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Goble, 33, of Bergen County was injured Sunday in the Kunduz Province and died from his injuries on Monday, officials said.
Goble was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, the military said.
Shortly after the initial U.S. military statement on Goble’s death, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted that the U.S. soldier was killed in the Chardara district in northern Kunduz province where U.S. and Afghan forces were carrying out a joint raid.
Mujahid said the insurgents had planted roadside bomb that killed the service member. He even tweeted a purported photo ID of the slain U.S. soldier, without saying how it was obtained.
The U.S. military did not comment on the tweet or the Taliban claim and said the incident was still under investigation. As of Tuesday morning, the U.S. military has not determined whether the movement’s claims are accurate. “The incident is still under investigation,” Lt. Col. Loren Bymer of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command said in an email on Tuesday.
Goble was raised in Westwood and entered the Army as a Special Forces candidate on July 7, 2004 before graduating the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 2007 and earning a Green Beret, according to a Facebook post from the 7th Special Forces Group.
"Sgt. 1st Class Goble was more than just a member of the 7th Special Forces Group, he was a brother to us, and a beloved family member to the Northwest Florida community,” Col. John W. Sannes, 7th SFG (A) commander said in the post. "We will honor our brother’s sacrifice and provide the best possible care to his family. We ask that you keep his Family and teammates in your thoughts and prayers.”
This was his third tour in Afghanistan, the post stated.
A friend set up a GoFundMe page Monday for Goble’s family with a goal of $15,000. That amount was increased to $50,000 when, by early Tuesday morning, nearly $25,000 had been raised. He was remembered Tuesday as being an exemplary man, soldier and father by friends, family and officials.
Gov. Phil Murphy’s office told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday the governor will order state and U.S. flags across New Jersey to fly at half-staff.
Twenty U.S. deaths have been recorded in Afghanistan this year. There have also been three noncombat deaths in 2019. More than 2,400 Americans have died in the nearly 18-year conflict.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
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