Father’s Tears of Joy
During a recent call, President Biden delivered heartwarming news to Shawn Sanders and Oneida Oliver-Sanders, parents of a fallen soldier. In a touching gesture, Biden revealed that their daughter would be posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Oliver-Sanders expressed, “Oh wow, that is the best news I’ve heard today, thank you so much.” The emotional moment brought tears to their eyes.
A Shared Connection
During the call, President Biden shared a personal connection with the grieving parents. He recounted his own experience of losing his son, who served in Iraq. “My son spent a year in Iraq; that’s how I lost him,” Biden revealed. However, it’s important to note that Beau Biden, the President’s son, actually passed away from glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, in 2015. Despite this discrepancy, President Biden maintains that his son’s illness may have been caused by exposure to toxic burn pits in Iraq.
Miscommunication or Misstatement?
President Biden has made previous claims about his son’s death, stating that he “lost his life in Iraq” during various speeches. However, these statements contradict the reality of Beau Biden’s cause of death. While the President’s intentions may have been to express empathy and connect with the parents of fallen soldiers, some critics question the accuracy of his remarks.
The Tragic Incident
The fallen soldier whose promotion was announced, Shawn Sanders, was one of three service members who lost their lives in a drone strike on January 28. The strike targeted an Iran-backed group based in northern Jordan. The other two soldiers who perished were Sergeant William Jerome Rivers and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett. All three were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade in Fort Moore, Georgia.
Accountability and Response
President Biden was briefed on the attack by high-ranking officials, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. In response to the incident, President Biden vowed to hold those responsible accountable. While emphasizing that the U.S. was not seeking further conflict, he assured that justice would be served in due time and manner.
A Controversial Invocation
Critics, such as Curtis Houck, the managing editor of NewsBusters for the Media Research Center, have taken issue with President Biden invoking the name and death of his son during the call with the grieving parents. Houck questioned “the nerve” of Biden to compare his own experience to that of the families who lost their loved ones in the recent drone strike.
A Developing Situation
The incident marks a significant escalation in the region, as it is the first time U.S. troops have been killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. The situation continues to unfold, and President Biden’s commitment to a measured response remains steadfast.
(Note: Fox News’ Brandon Gillespie Jeffrey Clark, Danielle Wallace, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.)