“Whether you are a Soldier or a Family member, we are in this together for life.”
— Lt. Col. David R. Wilson
By 1st Lt. Christopher L. Lowman
1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Elliah Goetz-Bixby and her brother Joel Goetz-Bixby, ride inside a Humvee March 29, 2019, during a Gold Star Family Luncheon at the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, headquarters. (Photo by Spc. Keyasha Yarwood)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — The Family of Capt. Dale Goetz, chaplain, was welcomed to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during a Gold Star Family Luncheon March 29, 2019, at the brigade’s headquarters building.
Maj. Nathan P. Mclean, chaplain, 1st SBCT, planned and organized the event to honor the life and memory of Goetz.
“Today is an important day for the brigade. It’s important because today we take time to remember the Gold Star Soldiers and Families in our brigade,” said Mclean. “To remember is important because when we remember, we demonstrate that we care. We care about Soldiers who sacrificed for our nation and we remember and honor the Families who sent them. So, today is significant for the ‘Raider’ Brigade because we purposefully take time to stop our activities and visit with our Gold Star Families and remember.”
Goetz, who was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st SBCT, died Aug. 30, 2010, when his military vehicle struck an IED. At the time, Goetz was traveling to an isolated post in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, in order to provide counsel and faith-based services to Soldiers. Subsequently, Goetz and four other Soldiers lost their lives that day. Goetz is survived by his wife, Christy, and their children.
The Gold Star Family began during World War I, and since its conception was the result of an ongoing tradition commonly practiced by many Families during World War I. Mothers whose sons were fighting in the war would hang a service flag in the window of their home. The flags were adorned with stars in order to denote the number of sons fighting at the time. A flag with a blue star symbolized a living service member, and if a child died in combat, the blue star would be replaced with a gold star. The Gold Star allowed other Families in the neighborhood to understand the sacrifice.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Christy Goetz-Bixby and Gidea Goetz-Bixby look through MRE choices March 29, 2019, during a Gold Star Family Luncheon the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, headquarters. (Photo by Spc. Keyasha Yarwood)
Grace Seibold was one of the original Gold Star mothers during World War I. She was very active in her community and even volunteered at a local veteran’s hospital. After her son, 1st Lt. George Seibold, died in France in 1918, she began organizing other mothers who had also lost sons in the war. By 1925, Seibold’s small group of 25 mothers established a national organization called American Gold Star Mothers Inc. Today, American Gold Star Mothers Inc. is open to any American woman whose child died while in the line of duty, to include stepmothers and adoptive mothers.
The brigade hosted a Gold Star Family luncheon to express its gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices made by the Goetz-Bixby Family.
“We were honored to host Mrs. Goetz-Bixby and her Family during the Raider Brigade Gold Star Family Luncheon,” said Maj. Jacob Teplesky, brigade executive officer. “We are saddened by her loss and forever grateful for the lasting impact he had on Soldiers.”
Goetz was a Christian, father and husband. He served as the pastor for the First Baptist Church in White, South Dakota, before joining the Army in 2000 and served as a chaplain in Iraq in 2004. He lived his life doing what he loved — guiding, mentoring and caring for Soldiers. Goetz’s death stands as proof of his unrivaled commitment to both his faith and his Soldiers.
Mclean escorted the Goetz-Bixby Family and showed them the brigade’s memorial wall, which displays the photos of Soldiers in the brigade who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The Family quickly found Goetz’ photo on the wall.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Joel Goetz-Bixby looks at a World War II-era vehicle March 29, 2019, during a Gold Star Family Luncheon at the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, headquarters. (Photo by Spc. Keyasha Yarwood)
“You’ve heard the saying ‘Army for life.’ That is what we are doing here today,” said Lt. Col. David R. Wilson, commander, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st SBCT. “We are modeling the Army for life mentality. Whether you are a Soldier or a Family member, we are in this together for life. So Christy (Goetz-Bixby), to you and your Family, thank you for being here and joining us for the event today.”
Mclean escorted the Family to the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 1st SBCT headquarters building, where the Family was presented with a broad assortment of demonstrations involving various military gear, equipment and vehicles. The children had the chance to see the Mobile Gun System and climbed atop the massive vehicle. They were given presentations on various weapon systems and some of the gear the Soldiers wear. The Goetz-Bixby Family’s day concluded with a ride around the base in a Humvee.
“The purpose of hosting our Gold star Families is to show (them) that their investment in us is just as important as our investment in them,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Tennant, senior enlisted leader, 1st SBCT. “For the Families who lost a loved one during combat operations supporting the Global fight against terrorism or even stateside while training to support this fight, when we lose just one of our own, both the military and Soldier’s Family feel the loss. Our love and devotion must be shared amongst our two Families. To share memories between the Family and Soldiers, to share in a meal, to provide just a day in a Soldier’s life with this Family, is therapy for us all to remember our loss, but more importantly remember our brothers and sisters in arms are never forgotten.”