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President Joe Biden revealed he’s given Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders’ a posthumous promotion to sergeant, making the announcement in a moving phone call with her parents.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution posted a video of Shawn Sanders and Oneida Oliver-Sanders receiving a phone call from Biden to express his sympathy at the loss of their daughter.

Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, was one of three soldiers killed in a weekend drone attack on U.S. service members in Jordan.

‘I wish I didn’t have to make this call. I know, you know, everybody knows there’s nothing anybody can say or do,’ Biden says on speakerphone as the parents listen. ‘I’ve been there. So we understand. I just want you to know that you’re in my prayers, in my heart.’

Biden also asked for their blessing to attend the dignified transfer of remains Dover Air Force base on Friday, which they granted.

Shawn Sanders and Oneida Oliver-Sanders received a phone call from President Joe Biden about the death of their daughter

Shawn Sanders and Oneida Oliver-Sanders received a phone call from President Joe Biden about the death of their daughter

Kennedy Ladon Sanders was 24 when she was killed in attack on U.S. troops in Jordan

Kennedy Ladon Sanders was 24 when she was killed in attack on U.S. troops in Jordan

The president called all three families of the fallen to express his sympathy and ask about attending the ceremony, the White House said on Tuesday.

He rang the Sanders at their home in Waycross, Georgia.

Shawn Sanders, 51 and a former Marine, told the newspaper that he promised his daughter if she decided to make a fulltime career in the Army, she would climb the ranks. 

‘Thank you, sir,’ Shawn Sanders said when Biden told them of her promotion.

‘You don’t know how much that means to us,’ Oneida Oliver-Sanders, 48, said.

Both of them wept when Biden gave them the news.  Kennedy had put in her papers for a promotion to sergeant and was still waiting to hear if she would get the promotion when she died.

During the six-minute phone call, Biden offered words of comfort and mentioned his own losses: his son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015; and his first wife and baby daughter, who were killed in a car accident in 1972. 

‘I got one of those calls,’ he said of that day 52 years ago. 

‘You won’t believe it now, and hope (you) won’t be angry when I say it, but a day will come … when you walk by a park Kennedy played in, or you open a closet and you smell the fragrance of her clothing or something like that, and you’ll smile before you cry,’ Biden said. 

‘That’s when you know you’re gonna make it. It takes a hell of a long time to get there, but I promise you you’ll get there. I know that is no consolation now.’

Biden called Shawn Sanders and Oneida Oliver-Sanders at their home in Georgia

Biden called Shawn Sanders and Oneida Oliver-Sanders at their home in Georgia

President Joe Biden called the families of the soldiers killed in the attack on Tuesday

President Joe Biden called the families of the soldiers killed in the attack on Tuesday

He also said he was looking at Kennedy’s picture and ‘she had such a beautiful smile. God love her.’ 

Oliver-Sanders told the president: ‘I just appreciate your words.’

The president also offered the Sanders the number of a phone just outside the Oval Office so they could call if they needed anything or wanted to meet with him at the White House.

He started to give them a 202 phone number when Shawn Sanders interrupted him: ‘We got a roomful of people. And I think it’d be in our best interest if you take you off speakerphone and get the number.’

They put him back on speaker afterward and Biden joked:  ‘I’m president of the United States of America – quote ‘the most powerful man in the world’ they keep telling me but they don’t let me have a phone.’

The Sanders laughed at his statement. 

Also killed along with Kennedy Ladon Sanders were Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia. 

Kennedy’s parents have described how she was close with fellow fallen soldier Breonna Moffet, who died in the same attack. 

Onedia told Fox News: ‘She made a lot of friends during her time in the military, even people who she went through basic training with. 

‘Breonna Moffet was one of the ones she grew a close relationship with. Every time she called me or Facetimed me Breonna Moffet was always somewhere nearby.’

Shawn and Onedia Sanders, seen here, also have described how Sanders was close with fellow fallen soldier Breonna Moffet, who died in the same attack

Shawn and Onedia Sanders, seen here, also have described how Sanders was close with fellow fallen soldier Breonna Moffet, who died in the same attack

Kennedy Ladon Sanders' she died in an Iranian-backed blast on the base near the Syrian border over the weekend

Kennedy Ladon Sanders’ she died in an Iranian-backed blast on the base near the Syrian border over the weekend

While Shawn told the outlet: ‘She was the life of the party. She enjoyed life. 

‘She was very competitive, she was goal-oriented and loved the service and serving our country. I miss her right know, this morning has been tough for me.’

When asked if she joined the army reserves due to her family being involved in the military, Sanders said: ‘We have family that has served. 

‘I don’t know where the influence came from, but she enjoyed her time in the service. 

‘Me being prior service, I am always focused on her commitment to the army and understanding the ultimate sacrifice. 

‘I came home, her big brother came home. My dad came home. A lot of us don’t have the opportunity to come home, and for those who don’t we should honor them.

‘I am gracious to be part of it and that so many people are willing to reach out and share their sentiment about her duty to the country.

Oneida added: ‘I just want everyone to know that Kennedy was a fun-loving person and lived her life to the fullest and enjoyed life. 

‘I encourage everyone to do the same and whenever you think about Kennedy, whether you knew her or not, just think about how joyful of a personality she was.’

Shawn Sanders, seen here during his time in the military, said his father and Kennedy's brother had all be in the service, with his daughter following in their footsteps

Shawn Sanders, seen here during his time in the military, said his father and Kennedy’s brother had all be in the service, with his daughter following in their footsteps

The drone attack late Saturday night impacted a US outpost located in the northeast part of the country known as Tower 22, near the Syria border, and resulted in at least 34 other injuries

The drone attack late Saturday night impacted a US outpost located in the northeast part of the country known as Tower 22, near the Syria border, and resulted in at least 34 other injuries

The three soldiers died alongside William Rivers during the deadly suicide drone attack in Jordan on Saturday. 

The troops were in their sleeping quarters at the time and the Pentagon confirmed Monday that the victims were likely in bed.

The three were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, a US Army Reserve unit based out of Fort Moore, Georgia. 

Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Biden was asked how he knew Iran was responsible for the fatal drone attack on U.S. troops in Jordan last week.

He responded: ‘I do hold them responsible in the sense they are supplying the weapons to the people who did it.’ 

When asked if he held Tehran directly responsible, he said: ‘We will have those discussions.’

Pressed about concerns raised by his own administration about the risks of escalation, the president replied: ‘We’ll see.’

When asked if he has made a decision how the U.S. will respond, he said: ‘Yes.’

He added: ‘I don’t think we need a wider war in the Middle East, that’s not what I’m looking for.’



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This post first appeared on Daily mail