2 soldiers killed in Jordan attack served in Tifton
TIFTON, Ga. – According to our news partners with the Tifton Grapevine Newsletter, two of the three soldiers killed Sunday during a drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan near the Syrian border had previously served at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Tifton.
Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, and Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, both enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2019 and were first assigned to the 381st Engineer Company in Tifton.
Moffett and Sanders, along with Sgt. William J. Rivers of Carrollton, were all members of the 718th Engineer Company based at Fort Moore – previously Fort Benning in Columbus – when they died, said the U.S. Army Reserve Command.
More than 40 other U.S. service members were injured in the attack Sunday, the Pentagon reported. The U.S. said Iran-backed militias are responsible.
On Tuesday, Moffett and Sanders were posthumously promoted to sergeant. They held the rank of specialist when they died.
“This promotion is a small token of our immense gratitude for Sgt. Sanders’ and Sgt. Moffett’s service and sacrifice,” said Col. Robert Coker, chief of staff for the 412th Theater Engineer Command.
The names of Moffett, Sanders, and Rivers will be engraved on a plaque at the Global War on Terrorism Memorial at the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, which includes the names of more than 7,000 U.S. service members who have died since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“These citizen-soldiers died in service to their country,” said Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General U.S. Army Reserve Command.
“On behalf of the Army Reserve, I share in the sorrow felt by their friends, family, and loved ones. Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten, and we are committed to supporting those left behind in the wake of this tragedy,” Daniels said.
Moffett, a Savannah resident, enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2019 as a horizontal construction engineer first assigned to the 381st Engineer Company in Tifton after completing advanced individual training. In 2023, she was assigned to the 718th Engineer Company at Fort Moore.
Moffett’s awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Sanders of Waycross, attended Valdosta State University before leaving school and going off to Army boot camp. She also enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2019 as horizontal construction engineer and was first assigned to the 381st Engineer Company in Tifton. In 2021, Sanders completed an eight-month rotation to Djibouti in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2023, Sanders was assigned to the 718th Engineer Company at Fort Moore.
Sander’s awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device.
Rivers, a resident of Carrollton, enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2011 as an interior electrician and was first assigned to the 990th Engineer Company at Fort McGuire-Dix in New Jersey. In 2018, he completed a nine-month rotation to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Last year, Rivers was assigned to the 718th Engineer Company at Fort Moore.
Rivers’ awards and decorations include the 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 Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, and the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with Campaign Star.
By: FRANK SAYLES, JR., Tifton Grapevine
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