.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Aug. 30, 2005) — A Soldier assigned to Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Special Operations Command here died Aug. 28 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, from wounds sustained Aug. 25 in Husaybah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position there.
Sgt. 1st Class Obediah J. Kolath, 32, died of injuries from an IED blast that resulted in the death of three other USASOC Soldiers whose deaths were announced on Aug. 27.
Kolath entered the U.S. Army Mar. 10, 1992, as a fire support specialist. After completion of initial entry training, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment in Germany. Since that time, Sgt. 1st Class Kolath served with the 4th Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), and the 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). His last assignment was as a team member assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, four Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the NATO Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Ranger Tab, and the Parachutist Badge.
Kolath was posthumously recommended for the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Purple Heart.
He is survived by his children, Vivian Schondelmeyer, Autumn and Mariah Kolath, and mother, Mary Kolath.
http://news.soc.mil/releases/05AUG/050830-01.htm