The tragedy triggered by the Jordon drone strike has hit home in a tight-knit community of Waycross, Georgia, as residents mourn the devastating loss of 24-year-old Army reservist Spc. Kennedy Sanders.
Sanders was identified as one of three U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed tragically in the drone strike on their base in Jordan near the Syrian border.
Sanders, known for her radiant smile and enthusiasm for life, had been eagerly looking forward to returning home to Waycross in June after completing her deployment in the Middle East.
She had plans to further her education, continue her work coaching soccer and basketball, and pursue a career as an X-ray technician.
The news of Sanders’ death, along with Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, has left the community in shock and grief.
All three soldiers were assigned to the 926th Engineer Brigade based at Fort Moore, Georgia.
Brig. Gen. Todd Lazaroski, Commanding General of 412th Theater Engineer Command, extended condolences to the families, loved ones, and teammates of the fallen soldiers, emphasizing their dedication to the nation’s safety.
Sanders’ father, Shawn Sanders, expressed the family’s devastation, describing Kennedy as a vibrant soul who was “just living life, enjoying life at a young age, working toward a career.”
Kennedy Sanders, along with her twin brother, was one of five siblings raised in a family with a strong military background – her father served in the Marine Corps, and her mother, Oneida Oliver-Sanders, had served on the county school board.
Kennedy Sanders had volunteered to deploy, eager to explore different parts of the world.
She had previously served in Djibouti before volunteering for a deployment in Kuwait, which included time in Jordan where the U.S. operates a logistics support base along the Syrian border.
Her parents spoke of her love for jiu-jitsu, running to stay in shape, and her dedication to staying connected by calling home almost daily. Despite occasionally mentioning nearby drone activities, there was no sense of imminent danger during their conversations.
“She was loved. She didn’t have any enemies. All the time you saw her smiling,” her father said.
The loss has prompted an outpouring of grief in Waycross and surrounding Ware County, with flags lowered to half-staff, local officials offering condolences, and the community coming together to mourn the tragic event.
President Joe Biden has pledged a response to the attack, and Sanders’ parents expressed confidence in his decision.
