Bergen Soldier To Be Buried At Arlington National Cemetery

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ – A U.S. special forces soldier from Bergen County who was killed late last month in Afghanistan will be buried Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery.

Services for Sgt. 1st Class Michael Goble, 33, will be held 1 p.m. at the Old Post Chapel at Fort Meyer, according to the cemetery’s funeral schedule.

See More: Soldier From Washington Township Killed In Afghanistan

While there is no word on any local memorials scheduled for the Washington Township native, U.S. and New Jersey flags will be flown at half-state at all state buildings and facilities on the day of Goble's funeral, according to an order by Gov. Phil Murphy.

In a statement, Murphy said Goble "represented the best values of our Armed Forces and of NJ - dedication, fearlessness, and excellence."

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"His tragic passing reminds us of the tremendous sacrifices our soldiers and our military families make in the name of service so that our nation's values may continue to be a beacon around the world. Our thoughts are with Sergeant 1st Class Goble's family and friends. May we all honor his service by endeavoring through our lives to represent the values for which he gave his life," the governor said.

See More: Details Released On Washington Township Soldier's Death

Goble and his unit were clearing out a Taliban weapons cache in the Kunduz Province on Dec. 23 when he was fatally injured in an explosion. On Christmas morning, a U.S. Army carry team moved a transfer case containing Goble's remains, during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware.

The 2004 Westwood High School graduate died just three weeks before he was due to finish his final tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Goble joined the Army in July 2004 and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course as a Green Beret in 2007. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airbone), which is based out of Elgin Air Force Base in Florida. Goble's military career includes the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $152,000 for his family, which the fundraiser's organizer said "is a true testament of the kind of man we all knew Mike to be. All money will go to Goble's girlfriend, Jennifer Albuquerque, and 6-year-old daughter, Zoey, organizers said.

According to the Associated Press, 20 American armed service members have been killed in combat and three non-combat deaths in 2019 in Afghanistan. More than 2,400 Americans have died during the nearly 18-year conflict, the report said.