WILLIAM JEROME RIVERS was born 2-FEB 1977 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Rivers enlisted in the Army Reserve on August 30, 2011, as an Interior Electrician (12R). He was first assigned to the 990th Engineer Company at Fort McGuire-Dix in NJ after completing advanced individual training, then served with the 465th Vertical Engineer Company. In 2018 he was assigned to the 375th Vertical Construction Company and completed a 9-month rotation to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. In 2022 SSG Rivers was assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade, Fort Moore, GA.
Ssgt. William Jerome Rivers died JAN-28 2024 in Jordan, along with two other U.S. Army reservists, after a drone strike on their container housing unit at a support base known as Tower 22. More than 40 other soldiers who had been aiding in the containment of ISIS near the Syrian border also were injured, according to the U.S. Department of Defense, which continues to investigate the suspected Iran-backed attack.
SSG. River’s awards and decorations include:
- Purple Heart
- Army Commendation Medal w/ “C” Device
- Army Achievement Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- Three Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals
- National Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ “M” Device and Bronze hourglass
- Army Service Ribbon
- Overseas Service Ribbon
- Two Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon
- Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star and a Combat Badge
Ssgt. William Jerome Rivers is buried at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton Georgia.