Sergeant Kennedy Ladon Sanders, U.S. Army, was known for being both hard working and fun-loving, with a deep commitment to her fellow soldiers and mission. Sanders, born to a marine veteran father, joined the JROTC in high school before enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserve. She served in the military and her community, working with local children as an assistant basketball coach and a soccer coach. Sanders worked at a local pharmacy while studying to be an X-ray technician, with plans to become a full-time soldier.
Sergeant Sanders was serving as a Horizontal Construction Engineer with the 718th Engineer Company in Jordan, aiding in the containment of ISIS near the Syrian border. On January 28, 2024, an armed drone hit a housing unit at Tower 22, killing three U.S. Army reservists, including Sergeant Kennedy Sanders, and injuring forty-seven others in the explosion.
Sanders was posthumously promoted from Specialist to Sergeant in recognition of her exceptional courage, dedication, and leadership and during Operation Inherent Resolve. Her awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.
Sergeant Kennedy Ladon Sander’s mother, Onedia Sanders, shared her pride in the promotion, “I’m very proud of that because that’s something she was working on anyway. She had submitted her promotion paperwork, so that was something she was aspiring towards.”
Sources:
https://mavm.org/storiesarchive/sanders-kennedy-landon/
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