WASHINGTON, DC. (THECOUNT) — Joshua “Zach” Beale, of Virginia, has been identified as the Army Staff Sgt. killed in central Afghanistan during a Tuesday firefight with enemy forces.
Beale, 32, a Green Beret, was killed by small arms fire while serving his third deployment to the area, Army officials said Wednesday.
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Beale was in the area of the Tarin Kot District, also spelled as Tarin Kowt, when he was killed in action, the Pentagon announced in a statement.
The highly-decorated soldier was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
He was posthumously promoted to sergeant first class, according to the Army. He was also posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal – his third Bronze Star – as well as the Purple Heart and a Meritorious Service Medal.
He is survived by his wife and two children, according to Stripes.
Tarinkot District, also spelled as Tarin Kowt, is a district of Uruzgán Province, Afghanistan. The capital of the district and the province is the town called Tarinkot. In Tarinkot district, two Pashtun tribal confederations are represented, according to Wikipedia.