Staff Sgt. Robert S. Goodwin, 35, was a Special Forces weapons sergeant assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.

He was killed in action while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom on Sept. 20, 2004, during a combat patrol near the town of Shkin in Afghanistan’s Paktika province when his vehicle came under fire from enemy forces.

A native of Albany, Ga., Goodwin enlisted in the Army in March 1989 as a medical specialist. After completing medical and airborne training, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., with assignment to the 44th Medical Brigade’s 36th Medical Company, and later the 261st Area Support Medical Battalion. After deploying in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Goodwin later served in Alaska and retrained as an infantryman prior to being selected in 2001 to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Goodwin’s military education includes the Special Forces Qualification Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, Jumpmaster Course and the Emergency Medical Technician Course.

Goodwin’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Expert Field Medical Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.

Goodwin is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and his son, Mathew.

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