WATERTOWN, SD, USA U.S. Army CW3, COMPANY B, 3D BATTALION, 160TH SOAR, HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, GA ASADABAD, AFGHANISTAN 06/28/2005
Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature of Clarks Grove, Minnesota was a 1988 graduate of Albert Lea High School where he played football, wrestled and was a pole-vaulter. He attended the University of Minnesota on an ROTC scholarship but did not graduate, choosing to enlist instead in the Army in 1991. His elite unit adopted Corey’s silent, unassuming confidence and called themselves “The Quiet Professionals.” They did their jobs and didn’t really talk about it.
Corey didn’t have to say anything to make his presence felt. He was very humble. He was very selfless. He served two previous deployments to Afghanistan. Moreover, in spite of the risk, he always sounded reassuring when he talked with his family.
He last saw his family in March 2005 and a year earlier the family had enjoyed a fishing trip in Canada the July 4th weekend, as well as on a hunting trip in South Dakota the previous fall.
Corey was one of 16 service members killed when a United States transport helicopter carrying special operations troops to a rugged area of eastern Afghanistan was hit by a missile fired by Taliban fighters. It was the heaviest single combat loss since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan in 2001. He was 35.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star, an Air Medal with Valor device, and the Combat Action Badge.
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