Family, friends, and military colleagues gathered in Georgia to pay their respects to three Army Reserve soldiers who were killed in a drone attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan. The first funeral service was held for Staff Sgt. William Jerome Rivers in Carrollton, where the 46-year-old reservist was remembered as a warm-hearted family man with a determined personality. Rivers, who served in Iraq in 2018, was buried at the Georgia National Cemetery for military veterans.

Meanwhile, in Waycross, a service was held for 24-year-old Sgt. Kennedy Sanders, who was described as a courageous and loving individual by her fellow soldiers. Sanders, a former high school athlete, worked at a local pharmacy and coached children's basketball and soccer teams in her spare time. Her mother, Oneida Oliver-Sanders, shared that Sanders had talked about buying a motorcycle when she returned home.

In Savannah, a funeral was held for 23-year-old Sgt. Breonna Moffett, who had recently celebrated her birthday before her tragic death. Moffett, who worked for United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia, was remembered for her dedication to helping people with disabilities learn new skills. She was also honored at Windsor Forest High School, where she had been a drum major and JROTC cadet.

The deaths of the three soldiers were the first U.S. fatalities attributed to Iran-backed militia groups following intensified attacks on American forces in the region. The soldiers were posthumously promoted in rank, and President Joe Biden met with their families upon their return to U.S. soil. The funeral services in Georgia served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by these young citizen-soldiers in service to their country.