On April 8th, 2004, while patrolling Highway One; Baghdad,
Iraq; Spc. Jonathan Kephart and his squad were ordered to move to the location of
another patrol that had been ambushed and had an immobilized vehicle. While en
route, they were greatly outnumbered by enemy forces on both sides of the road,
and then a roadblock forced them to turn back in the middle of the ambush. Even
after being shot twice in the shoulder, Jonathan laid down heavy, accurate
fire, keeping the enemy pinned down while his squad drove out of the ambush. Only
after a rocket-propelled grenade hist his vehicle did Jonathan stop firing, his
wounds too grievous for him to continue. In the words of CPT David C. Beaman,
Jonathan died a hero.
In the history of this great nation, we have heard this
story many times as brave young men and women fight to preserve our freedom. We
are proud of each of them and are proud to be called Americans. But how does a
family deal with such news? Proven In Battle is a real story about real heroes,
real bravery, real grief, and a real faith that sustained the Kephart family
during such a tragic loss.
