On the recordSeptember 27, 2010
it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the life and heroic service of Captain Dale A. Goetz. Captain Goetz, assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, CO, died on August 30, 2010, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Captain Goetz was serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan. He was 43 years old. A native of White, SD, Captain Goetz graduated in 1995 from Marantha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, WI, with a bachelor's degree. After serving in White for several years as a pastor, Captain Goetz enlisted in the Army in 2004 and served tours in Japan, Iraq and Afghanistan-- all with decoration. During his years of service, Captain Goetz distinguished himself through his courage, dedication to his soldiers, and unremitting devotion to his faith. His skillful ministry comforted troops and made them more effective in the field, and he never hesitated to engage and counsel others who held beliefs different than his own. Captain Goetz worked on the front lines of battle, serving in the most dangerous areas of Iraq and Afghanistan. He is remembered by those who knew him as a consummate professional with an unending commitment to excellence. His family remembers him as a dedicated husband and as a loving father to his three children. Mark Twain once said, "The fear of death follows from the fear of life.…
