María Elvira Salazar: “today I wish to reflect on the life of SGT Edmund Jeffers, who died last Wednesday in a vehicle accident in Taqqadum…”

“today I wish to reflect on the life of SGT Edmund Jeffers, who died last Wednesday in a vehicle accident in Taqqadum, Iraq. Sergeant Jeffers served in the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. At the age of 23 he was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. Eddie Jeffers grew up in Daleville, AL, just south of Fort Rucker. The son of a master sergeant, he learned the value of military service early in life. He enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2002 after his graduation, feeling the call of duty after the events of September 11. Those who knew Sergeant Jeffers describe him as a man of conviction, principle, and faith. His Christian values, his father recounts, guided his work as a soldier. They strengthened his resolve to defeat those who commit evils against innocents, and they kept alive his hope for a future of freedom and security for Iraqis. He saw the threat of terrorism as the struggle of his generation, a long war that will require sacrifice and commitment from all Americans. Sergeant Jeffers, like so many soldiers before him, documented his experiences in war with pen and paper. He kept a journal in Iraq, posted updates for his friends and family online, and shared some of his writings with the world. He was eloquent and sharp. One of his essays, entitled "Hope Rides Alone," has circulated widely on the internet, and newspapers have reprinted portions in recent days.”