They came from different backgrounds. They lived in different parts of the state. They had varied reasons driving them to serve.

But the three Georgia National Guard soldiers died together June 4 in the front lines of Afghanistan when a roadside bomb exploded and their vehicle came under attack.

On Saturday, Sgt. 1st Class John C. Beale, 39, of McDonough was buried in Fayetteville and Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette, 37, was buried in a small church cemetery in his hometown of Lula, near Gainesville.

The day before, Spc. Jeffrey W. Jordan, 21, was buried in Rome.

Beale’s two children sat in the front pew with their mother and grandfather Saturday at their father’s funeral, just a few feet from his casket.

They listened as the Rev. Tom Dowdy, Beale’s friend and pastor at First Baptist Church at Eagle’s Landing, called Beale “a true American hero … who placed his life on the line.”

“John knew the risks and danger,” he said. “He didn’t want to die, but he was willing to die … so we can live with freedom.”

Beale’s wife, Crystal, fixed her eyes on his casket throughout the service. She didn’t look away until it had been carried out of the sanctuary for the 20-mile procession from Henry County through Clayton to Camp Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fayette.

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