A lieutenant colonel assigned to the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division‘s intelligence directorate died of “natural causes” while deployed in Romania last week, the service first confirmed this week.
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Lt. Col. Nicholas D. Goshen died on Sept. 6, according to a division press release provided to American Military News on Tuesday. The press release said the 40-year-old Army intelligence officer died of “natural causes,” but provided no additional details about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Goshen was serving at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania at the time of his death. Nearly 4,000 soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division have been in Europe since June.
“Nick was a valued member of the team whose passion and commitment to the division and our Soldiers was extraordinary,” said Maj. Gen. JP McGee, the commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division. “I can personally attest to his exceptional talent. He will be missed.”
Goshen, who was born on Oct. 26, 1981, attended The Citadel Military College of South Carolina before commissioning as an infantry officer in 2004. He attended and graduated Ranger School and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky. with the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division and deployed with the unit to Iraq as a platoon leader.
Goshen went on to serve with the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry
Regiment, of the 10th Mountain Division, deploying with the unit to Afghanistan. Goshen eventually joined the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, where he served additional Afghanistan deployments.
Goshen later served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy. Goshen returned to the 75th Ranger Regiment after his time in Italy and deployed to Afghanistan again.
He also served on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon before returning to the 101st Airborne Division this year at Fort Campbell, where his military career began.
In total, Goshen had completed seven deployments, including one tour of Iraq and six of Afghanistan.
Goshen’s awards and decorations include The Bronze Star Medal for Valor; Bronze Star; Purple Heart; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Joint Chiefs of Staff
Identification Badge; Ranger Tab; Combat Infantryman Badge; Combat Action Badge; Parachutist Badge; and Air Assault Badge.
Goshen is survived by his wife of 14 years, Megan Epner. He also leaves behind a dog named Polo.
