Army Sgt. Jordan was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1-187 Infantry Battalion, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Jordan was patrolling a village when his vehicle was ambushed by RPGs at Tal Afar. Jason grew up next door to his grandparents' cattle farm and would help them with the chores. He graduated from Elba High School in 1997 and was an honor student and member of the Beta Club and Math Club. After graduation, Jason attended Enterprise State Junior College for a year, where he began studies for a degree in chemical engineering. He was also a certified lifeguard, open water scuba diver and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Jason enlisted in the United States Army in June 1998, and upon graduation, he was assigned to duty in Korea. After completing a one-year tour, he was re-assigned in January 2000 to the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. During this tour with the Mortar Platoon, 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, he was deployed with his unit to Kuwait from August to December 2001. He was promoted to sergeant in September 2001 and assumed the duties of squad leader within his unit. Everywhere Jason went, when people asked him where he was from, he never just said he was from the South; he said 'I am from Dixie,' because he was so proud of his hometown, and proud of being raised there. He strongly believed in what he was doing, by serving in the armed forces to keep America safe and strong. During his five years of service, Jason received a number of awards and decorations, including the Army Commendation Medal; the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters; the Army Good Conduct Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the NCO Professional Development Ribbon; the Army Service Ribbon; the Overseas Service Ribbon; the Expert Infantry man Badge; the Air Assault Badge; and Expert marksmanship badges for the M16 rifle and hand grenade. In July 2002, Jordan was re-assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and deployed March 1, 2003 to Kuwait in preparation for Operation Iraqi Freedom.