Wife of a reservist killed in Jordan: “I am proud”

On Jan. 28, Sergeant Rivers, 46, was one of three reservists killed in a drone strike in Jordan. The deadly attack also killed Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, and Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross. More than 40 other soldiers were injured. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Rivers, Moffett and Sanders were in Jordan to support Operation Inherent Resolve, a mission to fight ISIS. The logistics base from which the attack took place is on the Syrian border.

Two days before Memorial Day, Darlene Rivers stands with her son, William Rivers Jr., at Carroll County Veteran Memorial Park in Carrollton, just over 50 miles west of Atlanta. Men and women in uniform, neighbors and friends approach the couple, offering condolences, hugging and kissing them on the cheeks. They have gathered for the annual memorial service honoring the lives of 350 area soldiers killed in action since the Civil War. At this year’s event, the Veterans Memorial Park Association is unveiling Sergeant Rivers’ name on the Wall of Honor for those killed in action.

“I’m proud,” she said, waiting out a heavy rain that delayed the program and forced organizers to move from the memorial site to a covered office entrance nearby. “Our community really stepped up. I’m glad they recognize his sacrifice. For me, Memorial Day has a different meaning now.”

For Darlene Davis, the last few months have flown by. There was the day two uniformed police officers and a chaplain knocked on her door and told her that her husband of 11 years had died. There were countless calls from friends, family, veterans, politicians and the media, including “Good Morning America.”

She is naturally a quiet, reserved person, but the attention overwhelms her and she doesn’t want to be photographed. She hasn’t spoken to the press since a bad experience in January, she said. “It’s hard, it’s new,” she said.

As the rain let up and the sun peeked through the clouds, retired General Charles E. Wilhelm delivered his keynote address. General Wilhelm told a story in which he questioned the phrase “Happy Memorial Day!”

Photo credit: Steve Schaefer /

Photo credit: Steve Schaefer /

“This is a memorial service. It’s not a light-hearted day,” he told those in attendance as Darlene Rivers looked on. “This is the kind of day where we are thoughtful, where we reflect and are thankful for … everyone who sacrificed their lives so that we can live the way we live in the country that we live in.”‘

Wilhelm’s words weigh heavily on Darlene Rivers, who finds strength and motivation in her surviving children. Her community has been there for her every step of the way, she said. Neighbors mowed her lawn.

She tells of her encounter with Sergeant Rivers in 2008. The girl from New York and the boy from Philly fell in love and moved to the South seven years later. She says the children are doing well. They don’t have many questions about what happened.

Her son will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Atlanta Braves’ Memorial Day game against the Washington Nationals. He’s nervous about mastering the technique but excited to honor his father.

Darlene Rivers says she is in contact with the families of Moffett and Sanders. She has also spoken to President Joe Biden several times on the phone. First, he called to express his condolences. In the most recent conversation, the president promised to find out who was responsible for the drone attack and hold him accountable, she says. Through communication with military organizations and government officials, she receives up-to-date information on the development of the investigation.

Once the rain stops, it will be time for Darlene Davis and her son to see Sergeant Rivers’ engraving on the KIA wall. The family will also see a custom marble plaque honoring Sergeant Rivers on site.

Before Darlene Rivers walks back to the memorial, she stops and takes in everything and everyone around her: “an unfortunate sisterhood” of women who have lost someone in the line of duty. They stand behind her. She smiles slightly and says, “We’re fine.”