By Rohit
Mehta
Published
on January 31, 2024
Tributes
are being organized in Carroll County for Army reservist Sgt. William Jerome
Rivers, one of the three Georgia soldiers tragically killed in a recent drone
strike in Jordan. Sgt. Rivers, along with Specialist Kennedy Sanders of
Waycross, and Specialist Breonna Moffett from Savannah, lost their lives during
a strike on a U.S. base near the Syrian border, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. The
community is set to inscribe Sgt. Rivers’ name is on the wall at the Carroll
County Veterans Memorial Park, honoring those who fell in service.
Speaking
to WJCL, retired US Army Lt.
Col. Barry Gardner, president of the Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park
Association, expressed his commitment to commemorating the fallen soldier.
"Our hearts are broken," Gardner said, indicating the association
will add Sgt. Rivers's name to their wall honoring the fallen. He added,
"The term brotherhood, sisterhood is probably overused, but it's a fact.
And Sgt. Rivers' name will be approximately in this area down here under a new
title."
Sgt.
Rivers had been part of the 718th Engineering Company at Fort Moore, joining
the Army Reserve in 2011 and completing a 9-month tour in Iraq. The Department
of Defense confirms his significant contributions to the nation’s military
efforts. According to FOX 5, a dedication
ceremony in the park will fully honor Sgt. Rivers for his service and
sacrifice.
A
date for the dedication ceremony is yet to be announced, as the organizers
remain in communication with the Rivers' family, taking their readiness into
account. The expected ceremony will likely attract a large gathering including
community members, the American Legion's rifle squad, and a contingent from
Fort Moore as per details shared with FOX 5. Lt. Col. Gardner
conveyed his personal connection to the losses faced in combat, stating,
"I'm 25 year active duty in the Army, myself. Vietnam, in the beginning. A
few of my friends were killed in action, and any time a service member dies in
action it hits home for me."
Uniformed
military officers reportedly delivered the somber news to Sgt. Rivers' family
in Carrollton, and local police have been providing privacy support. Gardner
expressed that the soldiers’ families made the ultimate sacrifice. "My
condolences to the family of all three soldiers. They've given the ultimate
sacrifice, and we're here to honor them," he told FOX 5.
******
The arrangements for SSG William Jerome Rivers are incomplete at
this time and will be announced in the coming days by Martin & Hightower
Funeral Home. The family asks for your continued prayers during this difficult
time.
Messages of condolences can be sent to the family at
www.martin-hightower.com. Martin & Hightower Heritage Chapel is in charge
of the arrangements.