An Army soldier originally from New Jersey died Monday after being hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on Sunday, the Army said.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Goble of Washington Township, New Jersey, died from injuries sustained in the blast, which the Taliban has since claimed responsibility for. His unit was in the Kunduz Province when they were hit by the blast, the Pentagon said.
“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,” Col. John W. Sannes said in a statement Monday.
In addition to several deployments in Afghanistan, Goble also served in Guatamala, Colombia and Argentina, the Army said.
A friend set up a GoFundMe page that had made more than $20,000 by Monday night.
“We lost a true American hero yesterday. Anyone that crossed paths with Mike, was truly blessed,” his friend, Lisa Barker, wrote in the GoFundMe.
“I have never met a soldier that was more passionate and patriotic than Mike Goble. He loved this country endlessly, and paid the ultimate sacrifice for it, fighting for our freedom,” she added.
Goble’s death is the 20th of a US service member in combat in Afghanistan this year.