The families of three Army Reserve soldiers from Georgia, who tragically lost their lives in a drone strike in Jordan, are mourning their sudden and devastating loss.
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III and President Joe Biden are set to receive the remains of Spec. Breonna Moffett, Spc. Kennedy Sanders, and Sgt. William Rivers on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
In an emotional interview on CNN “NewsNight” on Monday, Francine Moffett, the mother of Spec. Breonna Moffett, expressed her profound grief, saying:
“My soul is so broken.”
Spec. Breonna Moffett, 23, was one of the three soldiers killed by a drone launched by the group known as Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed umbrella group operating in the region.
Spec. Moffett, along with Spc. Sanders, 24, and Sgt. Rivers, 46, was assigned to the 718 Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, and 926th Engineer Brigade, located in Fort Moore, near Columbus, Georgia.
The incident, currently under investigation, occurred at a base in northeastern Jordan, impacting an area where soldiers were resting.
Dozens were injured, and eight people were evacuated for medical treatment. Preliminary details suggest a potential mix-up when the opposing drone trailed the U.S. drone into the base, leading to it not being initially perceived as a threat.
These tragic deaths mark the first American fatalities in a wave of attacks from militant groups since the Israel-Hamas conflict began last October.
President Biden pledged accountability, stating:
“We’ll hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing.”
The drone responsible was traced back to Syria and fired by Iran-backed militants.
Spec. Moffett, who received the Army Service Ribbon and National Defense Service Medal, was proud to serve in the military, becoming the second female in her family to do so.
Sanders, a heavy equipment operator on her second deployment, received posthumous promotion to the rank of sergeant, as did Spec. Moffett, “in recognition of their exceptional courage, dedication, and leadership,” according to U.S. Army Reserve officials.
Sgt. Rivers, a highly decorated soldier who enlisted in 2011, was first assigned to a base in New Jersey. Senator Cory Booker acknowledged his death, stating:
“His death is a profound loss to his family, friends, colleagues, and our entire country, and a reminder of the heavy debt we owe to our military families for their sacrifice.”
The grieving families, now grappling with the immense loss, share a collective pride in their loved ones’ dedication and sacrifice in service to their country.
