Colville soldier killed in Afghanistan

A soldier from Colville has died following an attack in Afghanistan by insurgents firing rocket-propelled grenades, the U.S Department of Defense announced today. Army Staff Sgt. Wyatt A. Goldsmith, 28, died July 15 at Camp Bastion Hospital from injuries suffered in the Friday attack. Goldsmith, who was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, came under attack by insurgents in the Helmand province, according to the Defense Department. He was on his third deployment. Born in Redmond, Wash. on September 21, 1982, Goldsmith entered the U.S. Army in June 2004 as a Special Forces recruit. 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. Sgt. John Howelo was with the family today and said that they were not yet prepared to make a statement. Lt. Col. April Olsen, a spokesperson for Special Forces Command, said Goldsmith’s body is expected to arrive in Dover, Del., on Tuesday. “The unit is sending a soldier to escort the body back to Lewis-McChord,” she said Olsen did not have any more details about the battle in which Goldsmith was killed.