3 Missing Troops in Iraq - Update #6

Search for Missing Soldiers Expanded in Iraq

Foxnews.com has a good update today on our three Missing Soldiers in Iraq. It goes in part like this... Army Gen. David Petraeus, the senior American commander in Iraq, told the Army Times newspaper in an interview Friday night that U.S. forces were focusing on an insurgent who is "sort of an affiliate of Al Qaeda." He said an informant provided U.S. forces with names of those who took part in the raid and kidnapping but they were still at large. "We've had all kinds of tips down there. We just tragically haven't found the individuals," he said... Petraeus said he did not know whether the three missing soldiers, from the Army's 10th Mountain Division, were alive. But "as of this morning, we thought there were at least two that were probably still alive," he said...
Read the story in full HERE

3 Missing Troops in Iraq - Update #5

Search For Missing Soldiers Continues
Friday, May 18, 2007

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Search efforts continue for three missing U.S. Soldiers whoare believed to have been abducted by I Saturday in Quarghuli Village, Iraq.

Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LightInfantry) from Fort Drum, N.Y., and the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division have been conducting non-stop searches for the missing Soldiers - all assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd BCT - since their abduction.

“The brigade has been constantly searching for the Soldiers since their abduction,” said Col. Michael Kershaw, 2nd BCT commander. “As soon as wewere aware of the incident, we immediately cordoned off the area and started thesearch.”

The brigade, which is made up of about 14 company-sized elements, is usingalmost all of its elements both to search and to provide logistical support toSoldiers on the ground.

“We have been averaging about 20 events a day and we’re providing cots,food and water to those assisting with the search,” Kershaw said.

Aside from searching the area, Soldiers have been continually asking Iraqisfor any information they may have in regarding the incident, hoping the tips willlead them closer to the Soldiers.

“Although some tips may not be accurate, it is important for each one to beinvestigated,” said Maj. Rob Griggs, the 4-31 operations officer. “All tips must beconsidered important, because you never know if it is the one that will lead you tothe Soldiers.”

“Everyone is motivated and knows the importance of finding the Soldiers,”Kershaw said. “They all take pride in this brigade and their fellow Soldiers … It isin the Soldiers’ Creed to never leave a fallen comrade.”

Search efforts will continue until the Soldiers are found.

“The families back home need to know that we are not going to stop searchingfor the Soldiers until they are found,” Kershaw said. “They (the families) need toknow the Soldiers in this brigade are doing everything they can to find theseSoldiers.”

(Taken from press release #20070518-01 by Multi-National Corps-Iraq - Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory, Iraq - Written by Staff Sgt. Angela McKinzie)

Army Works to Determine Identity of Fallen U.S. Soldier
May 17, 2007

Army officials continue work to determine the identity of one of the four U.S. soldiers who were killed during an enemy attack May 12 near Mahmudiyah, Iraq.

The Defense Department yesterday released the names and units of seven U.S. Army soldiers who were killed or reported missing when their squad was ambushed May 12 about 20 miles south of Baghdad. An eighth servicemember, an Iraqi army interpreter, also was reported killed in the attack.

All of the U.S. soldiers belong to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), based at Fort Drum, near Watertown, N.Y.

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“It may be sometime today, leaning towards later in the day,” when the identity of the soldier might be confirmed, Fort Drum spokesman Ben Abel said today.

The deceased soldier’s remains are undergoing DNA testing at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Abel said. The unidentified U.S. soldier’s duty status is listed, for now, as whereabouts unknown, he said, along with the three missing soldiers. Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists in Iraq have claimed to be holding the three missing soldiers.

Meanwhile, U.S. and Iraqi security forces continue to scour the area in search of the missing soldiers.

“By God, they’re not going to stop until they find their fallen comrades,” Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said yesterday from Baghdad during a telephone interview with reporters.

A reporter asked for Lynch’s reaction in regard to reports that al Qaeda has placed statements on the Internet telling U.S. forces to cease the search for the missing soldiers.

“I give no credence in what al Qaeda and al Qaeda-associated members decide to put on the Internet or what they decide to announce to the world,” Lynch said. “We’re not going to stop looking for our soldiers until we find those soldiers.

“Whatever they put on the Internet, whatever pronouncements they make, we’re not going to stop. We will not leave our fallen comrades,” the two-star general emphasized.

(Taken from a news article by DoD’s American Forces Press Service that was written by Gerry J. Gilmore)

USN photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael BW Watkins

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UPDATE:

The Department of Defense today announced the name of the previously unidentified soldier, who a few days back was listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN).

His name is: Sgt. Anthony J. Schober, 23, of Reno, Nev.

Our thoughts and prayers go to Sgt. Schober, his family, friends, loved ones... and all of those who fought by his side.
AubreyJ.........

Iraq Special Operations Forces Detain 16 Suspects In Search For Missing Soldiers

May 17, 2007
Acting on tips received from the local population, Iraqi Special Operations Forces along with Coalition Forces detained 16 individuals May 16th during a search for three U.S. Soldiers missing since May 13th.

The ISOF detained the 16 during search operations south of Baghdad.

The three Soldiers have been missing since the May 13th attack on the location where they were working to interdict improvised explosive devices west of Yusufiyah. The attack left four U.S. and one Iraqi Soldier dead.

Iraqi Forces conducted the search with Coalition Forces acting as advisors. No Iraqi or Coalition Forces were injured during this operation.
(Taken from press release #20070516-13A by Multi-National Corps-Iraq - Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory)

3 Missing Troops in Iraq - Update #4

Search For Missing Soldiers Continues
Wednesday, May 16, 2007

During a Baghdad news conference today, Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, extended his condolences to the soldiers' families, adding that the search for the three missing soldiers continues.

Efforts also continue to make a positive identification of one of the deceased soldiers, whose duty status is for now listed along with the three missing soldiers as whereabouts unknown, the two-star general said.

Caldwell said he couldn't guarantee that the ongoing search for the missing soldiers would end in the most positive manner. "I cannot promise you the result that we're all praying for," the general said. "But, I can promise you that we and our Iraqi counterparts are doing absolutely everything we can to find our soldiers."

Local Iraqis have provided more than 140 tips and reports regarding the missing soldiers, Caldwell said, noting 37 specific operations related to the search have been conducted from that information.

The search area is divided into 35 zones, Caldwell said, noting operations have been conducted in 32 of those zones. More than 600 people have been questioned, he said, while 11 or so have been detained for further questioning.

One U.S. soldier has been wounded during the search operations, Caldwell said.

"Those operations are still ongoing," Caldwell said. He added that thousands of U.S., coalition and Iraqi forces are involved in the effort and that some previously searched areas have been or are being reexamined.

(Info in part from an original news article by DoD’s American Forces Press Service that was written by Gerry J. Gilmore)

Still photos courtesy of DVIDS

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AubreyJ.........

3 Missing Troops in Iraq - Update #3

Search For Missing Soldiers Continues

Coalition and Iraqi Forces have been working around the clock since a pre-dawn attack Saturday that left one Iraqi and four U.S. Soldiers dead and three other U.S. Soldiers missing.

Every asset has been brought to bear in the hunt for the missing troops, who belong to Multi-National Division-Center, including search dogs, trucks with speakers, unmanned aerial vehicles, law enforcement advisers, and both U.S. and Iraqi troops.

Personnel monitoring Iraqi tip call-in lines have also been busy. Thousands of leaflets were dropped requesting information leading to the return of the Soldiers. The leaflets list telephone numbers for tip lines, and the information given is routed to units in the area.

Maj. Kenny Mintz, a native of San Diego, Calif., and the brigade operations officer for the 2nd BCT, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), out of Fort Drum, N.Y., said the 2nd BCT’s participation in the search for the Soldiers is continuing by all available means.

“Right now our focus is on searching for the missing Soldiers, and we’re trying to isolate the areas where we think they could be,” Mintz said. “The (captors) don’t have freedom of movement; if they have the Soldiers, they can’t move them from where they are. We’re doing a deliberate search of the areas for the people responsible for the Soldiers we’re looking for.”

Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, the commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq, was the first to speak about the incident."Make no mistake,” Caldwell said Saturday. “We will never stop looking for our Soldiers until their status is definitely determined.”

If you have information about this or other crimes, please contact the Baghdad Tips Hotline by phone at 0790-1737723 or by e-mail at baghdadtipshotline@yahoo.com.
(Taken from press release #20070515-09 by MNF-I - Combined Press Information Center, Baghdad, Iraq)

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Reported as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown are:
Sgt. Anthony J. Schober, 23, of Reno, Nev.
Spc. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Mass.
Pfc. Joseph J. Anzack Jr., 20, of Torrance, Calif.
Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Mich.
...
Killed were:
Sgt. 1st Class James D. Connell Jr., 40, of Lake City, Tenn.
Pfc. Daniel W. Courneya, 19, of Nashville, Mich.
Pfc. Christopher E. Murphy, 21, of Lynchburg, Va.
...
They all were assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

3 Missing Troops in Iraq - Update #2

UPDATE: Monday, May 14, 2007
3 Missing Troops in Iraq

All Assets Engaged to Find U.S. Soldiers Missing in Iraq

All available assets are being engaged to find three missing U.S. soldiers who apparently were captured by enemy forces during a May 12 ambush near Mahmoudiya, Iraq, a senior U.S. military officer told reporters yesterday at a Baghdad news conference.
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Aircraft, intelligence units and thousands of U.S. troops have been scouring an area about 20 miles south of Baghdad where the attack occurred, Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, told reporters.

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"We have an ongoing effort, obviously, to find our three soldiers that have a duty status of whereabouts unknown," Caldwell said. About 4,000 U.S. forces, he said, are "directly associated" with search efforts.

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"Everybody is fully engaged" in the search for the soldiers, Caldwell pointed out, noting "every asset we have, from national (other U.S. government) assets to tactical assets" are being employed.

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A convoy-conveyed squad of eight soldiers, seven Americans and one Iraqi army interpreter was attacked by insurgent forces about 12 miles west of Mahmoudiya on May 12, according to U.S. military officials.

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An al Qaeda-affiliated terror group that operates in Iraq has since claimed responsibility for the attack and says it is holding the missing U.S. soldiers.

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Five soldiers were reported killed in the engagement, Caldwell said, adding the U.S. military sends its thoughts and prayers to the families of the soldiers who were killed or are missing. Officials have identified four of the five soldiers killed in the attack as being three American and an Iraqi army interpreter, Caldwell said. Efforts continue to identify the remaining deceased U.S. soldier, Caldwell said.

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"We have not released even the unit identification to which those soldiers are assigned, because we don't know who the fifth soldier is yet," Caldwell said, noting identification of the fifth deceased soldier should be completed soon.

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Caldwell pointed to the "Soldier's Creed," which says soldiers are not to leave fallen comrades on the field of battle.

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"To every man and woman out there serving in uniform here in Iraq from the United States, we believe in this deeply," Caldwell said. "And, therefore, we will make every effort available to find our three missing soldiers."

(Taken from a news article by DoD’s American Forces Press Service - Written by Gerry J. Gilmore)

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>>> AirForceTimes.com has this update that starts off like this...
An al-Qaida front group that claims it has captured several missing American soldiers issued a statement Monday warning the U.S. military to stop searching for them, and suggested it launched the attack on the soldiers’ convoy to seek retribution for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in the same area of Iraq a year ago...
Read the rest HERE

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I’ll update post when more news comes in

Original post and first update can be found HERE

Five Soldiers Killed in Iraq, Three Other Soldiers Currently Missing

(NOTE: This Post moved to top from original Saturday Posting – Scroll for newer Post below)

Saturday, May 12, 2007
Five (4 were U.S.) soldiers were killed in Iraq today and three others are currently missing following an attack near Mahmudiyah, a senior U.S. military officer reported.

"This morning at 4:44 a.m. in Iraq, a coalition force team of eight soldiers (seven Americans and an Iraqi Army interpreter), were attacked 12 miles west of Mahmudiyah," Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, said in a written statement. "As a result of this attack, five soldiers were killed in action and three are currently missing."

A nearby coalition unit heard explosions during the attack and unsuccessfully attempted to establish communications. Coalition forces arrived within an hour, secured the site, and immediately initiated a search, Caldwell said.

The general said coalition forces are currently using every means at their disposal to find the missing soldiers, and will continue these efforts until all are accounted for.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those killed in this attack and for the missing soldiers and their loved ones back home," Caldwell said.

The names of the soldiers are being withheld pending final identification and notification of next of kin.

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The specifics are as follows:

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-- Coalition forces heard an explosion at 4:44 a.m. this morning about 12 miles west of Mahmudiyah.

-- After an unmanned aerial vehicle observed two burning vehicles, a quick reaction force was dispatched, arriving on scene at 5:40 a.m.

-- The quick reaction force reported finding five members of the team killed in action and three others whose duty status and whereabouts are unknown.

-- Helicopter, unmanned aerial vehicle, and fixed wing assets are being used to search in the vicinity.

-- Checkpoints have been established throughout the area in a concerted effort to focus the search and prevent potential movement of missing soldiers out of the area.

-- Coalition forces have engaged with local leaders to enlist their support in providing any information they can, and these engagements continue.

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(Taken from a news article by DoD’s American Forces Press Service that was compiled from a news release by MNF-I)
More on this as news comes in

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I’d like to add this... May God Bless each and every one of these fallen Heroes, their families, friends, loved ones and their comrades in arms who were at their side and now missing...
AubreyJ.........

The VIDEO below is of a briefing by Maj. Gen. Caldwell on the known details of this attack against U.S. forces 12 miles west of Mahmudiyah, Iraq.
Video Courtesy of DIVIDS – Submitting Unit is American Forces Network Iraq

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UPDATE: Sunday, May 13, 2007
LiveLeak.com website has a video and written update about what’s going on up through today... Click it out at link below...
Search For Missing Troops Intensifies