NJ man among Army Reserve soldiers killed in Jordan drone strike: Booker

NEW JERSEY (PIX11) -- Three Army Reserve soldiers who were killed in a drone strike while deployed in Jordan on Sunday have been identified.

Sgt. William J. Rivers, 46, of Willingboro, New Jersey, was identified as one of the soldiers who died in the attack.

The office of Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., released a statement and said:

“Sergeant Rivers served with courage, honor, and a deep sense of duty, embodying the best of New Jersey and our nation. 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," Booker said. “A grateful nation can never repay Sergeant William J. Rivers, Specialist Kennedy L. Sanders, and Specialist Breonna A. Moffett, and their families, but we can honor their lives by upholding the values they fought for. I extend my deepest condolences to their loved ones in this time of grief.”

The attack also killed Spc. Kennedy Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia, and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia, the Defense Department said Monday. All three were reservists assigned to the 926th Engineer Brigade based at Fort Moore, Georgia.

Brig. Gen. Todd Lazaroski, commanding general of the 412th Theater Engineer Command, expressed condolences to the families, loved ones and teammates of those killed.

“We are reminded that the brave men and women who defend our great nation put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our country safe," Lazaroski said in a news release. "They represent the best of America. We will remember their service and their sacrifice.”

Rivers enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2011 and was first assigned to the 990th Engineer Company at Fort McGuire-Dix in New Jersey. He completed a nine-month tour in Iraq in 2018 and was assigned to Fort Moore last year.

President Joe Biden has promised that the U.S. will respond after the incident.