Three members of 108th Cavalry killed in Afghanistan 06/05/09 From staff, wire reports Email this story to a friend Staff Sgt. John C. Beale Three members of the 108th Cavalry were killed in Afghanistan during an attack by Taliban militants. While none of the three were from Calhoun, the mode was somber Friday afternoon at the Calhoun armory when word of the deaths was received. According to the Department of Defense, those killed in the attack are: Staff Sgt. John C. Beale, 39, of Riverdale. Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette, 37, of Lula, the executive officer of the 108th Cavalry. Spc. Jeffrey W. Jordan, 21, of Cave Spring. Military officials said the soldiers were killed Thursday in an attack on their convoy in Kapisa province when their convoy struck an improvised explosive device and came under small-arms fire. Georgia’s Gov. Sonny Perdue issued the following statement upon notification of the death of the three Georgia Army National Guardsmen. “Today’s news that Major Kevin Jenrette, SSG John Beale and SPC Jeffrey Jordan died serving in Afghanistan is a sobering reminder of Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette the dangers our citizen soldiers face there everyday. I know the families of these Guardsmen have broken hearts and though we can not comprehend the loss they are feeling, Mary and I join them in mourning. I have personally visited with our troops both here and over seas and I am always deeply moved by their dedication to serve others. These men and women go where they are asked on a moment’s notice, leaving behind families and communities that miss them dearly. It is our responsibly 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 recent death of three Georgia Guardsman is very traumatic to our Georgia National Guard family,” said Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt, Georgia’s Adjutant General. “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. We extend our heartfelt condol Spec. Jeffrey W. Jordan ences and support to the families of these brave Guardsmen.” No militant group has as yet claimed responsibility for the attack in area where extremist Hezb-e-Islami faction led by former prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar are active. Thursday’s attack was the third strike by insurgents in the region in less than a week, part of a surge in violence eight years after the U.S invaded to oust the Taliban regime. Taliban-linked insurgency has risen in Afghanistan, particularly in the violent south where hundreds of NATO soldiers are stationed. Recent attacks have raised stability concerns as the nation heads for key presidential and provincial elections scheduled for August 20, the second since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.