Three Guardsmen killed in Afghanistan

From the Georgia National Guard:

The following is the official Department of the Army notification of the deaths of three Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA)Squadron currently supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three Soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died June 4 near Kapisa, Afghanistan of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Georgia Army National Guard in Calhoun.

Killed were:

- Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette, 37, of Lula, Ga.,
- Staff Sgt. John C. Beale, 39, of Riverdale, Ga.
- Spc. Jeffrey W. Jordan, 21, of Rome, Ga.

"Their deaths occurring so early in the deployment of the 48th Brigade underscores the very real challenges facing our Soldiers and the inherent risks of the mission," Guard Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt said in the Army release. "We extend our heartfelt condolences and support to the families of these brave guardsmen."

Gov. Sonny Perdue also released a statement, saying it is the responsibility of all Georgians "to do all that we can to comfort these families and all of the families with a loved one in the line of duty."

The Gainesville Times has a story up about Maj. Jenrette. He was married with three children, according to his father, a colonel in the United States Army.

The Rome News has a piece about Spc. Jordan. He was married, with a 1-year-old son. He worked at the local prison, and had a "goofy smile."

11 Alive spoke to Staff Sgt. Beale's parents.

I don't mean to insult anyone's intelligence, but "wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device and small arms fire" means someone set off a bomb. Then they came with guns to finish the job.

The Gainesville story says a fourth soldier, nationality unreported by the Army, survived with injuries.