Sacrifice Of 3 Slain GA Soldiers 'Not Forgotten' After Jordan Strike

GEORGIA — Two of the three Georgia Army reservists killed Sunday during a drone strike in Jordan were friends, Atlanta News First reported Tuesday.

Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton; Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross; and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, all died while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. Department of Defense said Monday.

They were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion and 926th Engineer Brigade in Fort Moore, the U.S. Department of Defense said.

Moffett and Sanders reportedly formed a friendship after Sanders enlisted in the Army Reserve, Atlanta News First reported.

Sanders' mother, Oneida Oliver-Sanders, told the outlet she remained in shock Tuesday after learning of her daughter's death.

“Kennedy was very athletic, very outgoing,” Oliver-Sanders told the outlet. “People call her goofy. She was laughing, playing, smiling.”

Moffett was the first child born to her mother, Francine Moffett.

“She was so amazing," Francine Moffett told Atlanta News First of her daughter.

The loss of Rivers, Sanders and Moffett left a mark on the Army Reserve, said Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of Army Reserve and commanding general, U.S. Army Reserve Command.

RELATED: 3 GA Soldiers Killed In Jordan Drone Strike, Feds Say

“On behalf of the Army Reserve, I share in the sorrow felt by their friends, family and loved ones," Daniels said. "Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten, and we are committed to supporting those left behind in the wake of this tragedy.”

The deadly strike happened at a remote military outpost near the Syrian border, according to the New York Times. Another 34 service members were wounded in the strike, which was reportedly carried out by "radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," according to the Times, citing the Biden Administration.

Sgt. William J. Rivers

Rivers was originally from Willingboro, New Jersey, and he lived in Carrollton, according to his biography.

He enlisted in the Reserve as an interior election (12R) in 2011 and was first assigned to the 990th Engineer Company at Fort McGuire-Dix, New Jersey, after training.

He finished a nine-month rotation in 2018 in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, and in 2023, he was stationed at Fort Moore.

While serving, Rivers earned the following awards and decorations:

• Army Achievement Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon
• Two Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbons
• Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device
• The Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with Campaign Star

Spc. Kennedy L. Sanders

Sanders enlisted in the Reserve as a horizontal construction engineer (12N) in 2019, according to her biography.

Following her training, Sanders was assigned to the 381st Engineer Company in Tifton. She finished an eight-month rotation in 2018 to Djibouti in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and was reassigned in 2023 to Fort Moore.

While serving, Sanders earned the following awards and decorations:

• National Defense Service Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Army Service Ribbon
• Overseas Service Ribbon
• The Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device

Spc. Breonna A. Moffett

Like her friend Sanders, Moffett enlisted in the Reserve in 2019 as a horizontal construction engineer (12N) and was assigned to the 381st Engineer Company in Tifton. She, too, was re-assigned in 2023 to Fort Moore.

While serving, Moffett earned the following awards and decorations:

• The National Defense Service Medal
• The Army Service Ribbon