Funeral of Two Army Reserve Soldiers Killed in Drone Attack in Jordan Draws Hundreds of Mourners

Two young citizen-soldiers who had enlisted in the Army Reserve and formed a strong bond were honored at funerals in southeast Georgia. After nearly three weeks since they lost their lives in a drone attack, the community gathered to pay their respects.

Funeral Services for the Fallen Soldiers 

Sgt. Kennedy Sanders and Sgt. Breonna Moffett, aged 24 and 23 respectively, were among the three members of their Army Reserve unit who tragically passed away in the drone attack near the Syrian border on January 28th. The funeral service for Sanders took place in the filled 1,200-seat auditorium of Ware County Middle School in Waycross. Meanwhile, Moffett's funeral was held in Savannah, with the family requesting privacy, asking the media not to attend.

Remembering the Soldiers 

During the service, Sanders was remembered for her courage, loving personality, and willingness to volunteer for challenging tasks. Her former basketball coach reminisced about Sanders' pure joy, putting others before herself. Similarly, the final homecoming for Moffett was marked by a heartfelt remembrance by her community and loved ones.

The Tragic Incident and Its Aftermath 

This heartbreaking incident marks the first U.S. fatalities attributed to Iran-backed militia groups after a series of intensified attacks on American forces in the region. The attack, which occurred at Tower 22, a secretive U.S. military desert outpost, was particularly devastating as it targeted living quarters and took place in the early morning, catching the soldiers in their beds.

The aftermath of the attack resulted in over 40 troops sustaining injuries, making it one of the deadliest assaults on U.S. service members since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The Defense Department revealed that the three soldiers killed in Jordan were posthumously awarded promotions in rank.

Moffett and Sanders, both construction engineers in the Army Reserve, had formed a close friendship since enlisting in 2019. Members of Moffett's family noted that whenever they would speak to her, Sanders was often present too. Both soldiers had aspirations and dreams beyond their military service. Moffett, a former drum major and JROTC cadet, was passionate about helping people with disabilities, while Sanders, who hailed from Waycross, was involved in coaching children's sports teams.

Global Ramifications and Retaliatory Measures 

In response to the drone attack, the U.S. initiated retaliatory airstrikes on numerous targets associated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its affiliated militias in Syria and Iraq. The attack in Jordan added to the escalating tensions in the region, with Iranian-backed Houthi militants based in Yemen also conducting attacks on commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea.

The tragic loss of these two young soldiers has left a deep impact on their community and the nation as a whole, serving as a somber reminder of the human cost of conflicts in the Middle East. The legacy of Sanders and Moffett will be remembered by their loved ones and fellow soldiers, as they continue to honor their service and sacrifice.