Virginia Green Beret Killed in Afghanistan

A week after a U.S. Army Ranger died from wounds suffered in Afghanistan, an Army Green Beret from Virginia has been killed during combat operations in central Afghanistan.

Special Forces Sgt. 1st Class Joshua “Zach” Beale, 32, died in Uruzgan Province Tuesday after he was wounded from small arms fire. From Carrollton, located in eastern Virginia’s Isle of Wight County near Smithfield and Newport News, he is survived by his wife and two children.

Beale was assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This was his fourth overseas tour, and his third tour to Afghanistan after more than seven years of service in the Army.

He graduated in 2008 from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and enlisted in 2011, attending basic training and airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2013 and was then assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group.

Beale was posthumously promoted to sergeant first class. His awards and decorations include three Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, a Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the NATO Medal, the Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge and the Combat Infantry Badge.

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