Location: 1756
Date: 9/21/2011
Rank: Specialist
Branch: U.S. Army
Operation: Operation Enduring Freedom
SPC Robert E. Dyas, 21 of Nampa, Idaho died September 21, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan when insurgents engaged his patrol with small arms fire. He was assigned to Company A, 2d Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.
He was engaged to Kasey Kobelt, whom he had known since the third grade, and was planning to get married and start a family when his service wrapped up, said his stepfather, Jerry Nowland. “She was his future, they’d planned to buy a house or small farm”.
His mother called him “true hero” who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, a son, a friend and a brother,” she said, “and he is going to be so missed, so missed.” Robert planned to go back to school and learn a trade when he got out of the military, his stepfather said. He liked to bird hunt with his stepfather. He had recently purchased a 1966 Pontiac LeMans, like the one his stepfather owns, and they had planned to cruise together in their classic cars.
“He was a good soldier; he served our country well,” his stepfather said. “We can’t put into words what we have lost.” His family described him as a “good kid” with a bit of an ornery streak. In school he played baseball and golf, and he passed on those skills to his brother, Jake Nowland.
Robert will be forever remembered by his family and our country for his bravery and dedicated service to his Nation.