More Details Released On Washington Twp. Soldier's Death: Report

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ – A U.S. special forces soldier from Bergen County who was killed last week in Afghanistan was clearing out a Taliban weapons cache at the time of his death, according to a report.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Goble and his unit were seizing an undisclosed amount of weapons they discovered on Monday in the Kunduz Province when an explosion occurred, the Associated Press reported Friday. The outlet also reported that the Taliban wrongly claimed the service members were in a convoy and targeted by a roadside bomb during a raid.

The 33-year-old Washington Township resident, died just three weeks before he was supposed to finish his final tour of duty in Afghanistan.

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.

See More: Soldier From Washington Township Killed In Afghanistan

While funeral arrangements for the 2004 Westwood Regional High School graduate have yet been made public, his aunt, Jill Onorato told NorthJersey.com Goble's preference was to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

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 $145,000 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.