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DETROIT NATIVE SUN
DETROIT NATIVE SUN


By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
     Three Black American reservists from the 926th Engineer Brigade, based at Fort Moore, Georgia, lost their lives in a drone attack on a U.S. base near the Jordan-Syria border. Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh identified the fallen soldiers as Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia.    
    The tragedy occurred at the logistics support base at Tower 22 of the Jordanian Defense Network, where approximately 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel are stationed. That base plays a crucial role in providing support for the coalition’s efforts against ISIS, according to Central Command.
     The attack marks the third drone strike on the outpost in the past six months, with the first two occurring in the latter half of the previous year being unsuccessful. Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, said the murders of the three Black reservists cut deeply.
     The U.S. government has determined that Iran was responsible for the attack, prompting President Joe Biden to vow a response. “There will be a response,” Biden declared.
  In her last conversation with her mother, Sanders reportedly expressed aspirations to elevate her military career upon returning home from the Middle East. She also revealed her intention to purchase a motorcycle. Sanders was actively involved in coaching soccer and basketball in her hometown of Waycross, Georgia, and worked at a pharmacy. She was pursuing college courses to become an X-ray technician.
     Sanders’ parents shared that she volunteered for deployment to experience different parts of the world. With a history of military service in the family, Sanders had previously deployed to Djibouti and later volunteered for Kuwait, including a stint in Jordan near the Syrian border.
    Rivers enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2011 as an interior electrician, according to the U.S. Army Reserve Command Public Affairs Office.
    He served “with courage, honor, and a deep sense of duty, embodying the best of New Jersey and our nation,” said Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). “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.”
    U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who represents Willingboro, said in a statement that Rivers served this country and local community with great honor and bravery. “We are indebted to him and his loved ones for their service and sacrifice,” Kim stated. “We will never forget what Sergeant Rivers and his fellow fallen soldiers, Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, gave for our nation. May their memory live on in our continued service to our military families.”
    Moffett reportedly was no stranger to the military as both of her parents were veterans.
    “I was like no you should, but you know she went anyway, because of her dedication to her county, she really really honored her job,” Saryha Truell, one of Moffett’s lifelong friends, told WTOC-TV.
   “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,” said Brig. Gen. Todd Lazaroski, Commanding General of the 412th Theater Engineer Command.
  “Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten,” Daniels stated.







Three black U.S. Army reservists killed in drone attack near Syrian border
Honoring black veterans
     As we recognize Black History Month, it’s important to remember the millions of African Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces throughout our nation’s history, says Brian L. Love, director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and a Marine Corps veteran.
  African Americans have fought in every war fought by or within the United States. The U.S. Army History Office estimates 5,000 Blacks served in the American Revolution—as infantrymen, artillerymen, laborers and even musicians.
    During World War II, more than 1 million African American men and women served in every branch of the Armed Forces, according to the National WWII Museum. In addition to battling the forces of fascism abroad, they also battled racism at home. The Army, Navy and Marines segregated Blacks into separate units because of the belief that they were not as capable as white service members.
    When the Marine Corps began recruiting a contingent of Black Marines in June 1942, men from across the country flocked to enlist and train at Montford Point, North Carolina. Although the “Montford Point Marines” excelled at gunnery and drill, they faced the same segregation and hostility as men and women in the other branches.
  One of the Montford Point Marines who fought in WWII was Deolis Allen Sr. of Detroit (pictured below). Allen was the uncle of MVAA Director Love.






















                                         Deolis Allen Sr.
  “The Montford Point Marines went through a lot of hardships to earn the title of United States Marine,” Love says. “They endured those hardships at home and then went overseas and faced the hardships of combat.”
  Director Love, who served as a Marine Corps infantryman from 1986-90, comes from a long line of Marines. In addition to his Uncle Deolis serving in WWII, he had an uncle serve in Korea and his father, stepfather and another uncle all served in Vietnam. In addition, an uncle and two cousins have served in the post-Vietnam era, including one cousin who fought in the Gulf War. They were all Marines.
  Today, an estimated 53,000 Black veterans from all service branches call Michigan home, which is just over 10% of the total veteran population.
  “For Black History Month, and all throughout the year, we honor the rich and distinguished military history of African Americans,” says Director Love (pictured below, in the Marine Corps). “From the Revolutionary War to World War II, and from Vietnam to Korea to Iraq, African Americans have served their country proudly, honorably and with distinction.”
  Watch Director Love’s Black History Month message on the MVAA’s YouTube channel.