Keith "Matt" Maupin. A reservist who went to do his duty when he was called. The words "Great American" are over-used. Maupin was a true Great American.
Posted on 04/03/2006 6:33:22 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
Sunday will mark the second anniversary of the capture near Baghdad of Army Reserve Sgt. Keith Matthew "Matt" Maupin of Batavia, Ohio, the only U.S. soldier not accounted for in the three years of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
While more than 2,300 U.S. service members have been killed in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion and more than 17,000 have been wounded, Sgt. Maupin is the only one officially listed as "missing/captured" and his whereabouts unknown.
The sergeant's parents, Keith and Carolyn Maupin, think their son is still alive, even though the Arabic-language TV network Al Jazeera, reported June 28, 2004, that he had been executed. The Pentagon says it does not know whether Sgt. Maupin is dead or alive, calling a dark and grainy video it obtained that purports to show the sergeant being shot in the back of the head "inconclusive."
Military officials say they don't know if the shooting victim was Sgt. Maupin, since the man in the tape is blindfolded and his face is not shown. Some Army officers have suggested that the gunmen in the video shot a dummy.
"We don't want them to quit looking for Matt. He hasn't been found yet, so they are not doing all they can do. I know if they did more, they'd find him," Mr. Maupin said in a telephone interview.
He added he is grateful for the calls and e-mails he receives once each week from an Army casualty assistance officer. The message is always the same, Mr. Maupin said: "The status of Matt is unchanged, and he's still listed as captured." But he said the officials do their best to answer all his questions.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Which frankly is one of the reason's Free Republic is so important. It affords an opportunity to remind one another of SGT. Maupin and issues equally important to us as individuals and to the country at large.
I suppose what I am trying to say Free Republic is certainly deserving of our support. :)
PING
Remember SGT. Maupin!!!
Sergeant Maupin, you are not forgotten.
ping
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Keith "Matt" Maupin. A reservist who went to do his duty when he was called. The words "Great American" are over-used. Maupin was a true Great American.
Does anyone know of a report that explains how SGT Maupin was captured? I have read lots of stories that simply say that his convoy was attacked, as if we are to infer that this equates to being captured. Lots of convoys get attacked everyday and people don't get captured. I'm just curious how this happened.
It's probably not fair or even the right thing to say, but I'd trade all they whiny lefty "hostages" we've gotten back for this one, fine U.S. soldier.
It just breaks my heart and tears flow knowing that Sgt. Maupin has not been found. I can't even imagine the depth of anguish and helplessness his family must be feeling after all this time.
Thank you so much, FMC, for bringing Matt Maupin to the forefront again. Please folks, pray for Sgt. Maupin and his family.
I do hold both Sgt Maupin and Capt. Scott Speicher clos to my heart.
Prayers up for Matt & for the wonderful soldiers looking for him. May they bring him home soon!
Maupin and Speicher are both still listed as missing and our forces are still actively searching for both, following leads on a weekly, if not daily basis.
Bump! Thanks for the ping.
God Bless them.
Thanks for the reminder FMC. We must not forget the fallen and the missing.
Tommy Hammill's book gives a overview of the attack though I don't believe it addresses Sgt. Maupin's capture directly.
Prayers Up.
Prayers for him and his always.
Prayers sent for Sgt. Maupin.
Thanks - I tried to post a story about this that ran in USA today a few days ago but there is a copyright problem. If you go to their site and do a search it's there.
Glad to hear that both are actively being searched for.....prayers continue for both.
God bless you, Sgt. Maupin.
You're always in our thoughts and prayers.
Prayers every day for Matt Maupin and Michael Speicher. May all that is hidden be revealed.
Thanks for the ping FMC. I hope they find him or, at least, find out what happened to him.
Never Forgotten.
Always in our thoughts and prayers.
I have not forgotten.
Matt Maupin has been in my prayers daily for the past 2 years.
I just wanted to say if prayer's and good wishes could have SGT Maupin home, he would have been home long ago.
Just one of the amazing ways Free Republic makes a difference. We are able to keep his name alive. To share current articles of searches going on.
Got to thinking perhaps we all can send a card to his family. I am sure there is an address somewhere, this is a time that I am sure they could use all the warm wishes, prayers and notes of support and encouragement. Just a thought.
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That's a very nice thought FMC. His family would appreciate knowing people are thinking of him - and them.
Thank you FMC....Never forgotten...
Had a great dinner in the mess hall there [Abu Ghraib] with the Soldiers, and spent the afternoon checking fighting positions and guard towers. That evening I spent some talking with the joint service members of our intelligence unit, a section of which is dedicated to finding our one MIA, SGT Keith Maupin. They are out on missions each week, intent on bringing him home.
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=5370
Reat Thomas Hamill's book. He was in the same convoy. That week in April everything blew up. The day their convoy got hit, all four of our convoys went through BIAP instead of traversing Sword. For some reason they didn't know the condition/threat assessment of that highway. Several people died in those three days, either patrols on the ASR or convoys trying to get through.
They had blockaded the highway with burning tires and torched dump trucks, etc. There was basically a 5km kill zone. I'm surprised anyone made it out alive, actually.
BTTT
BTTT
BTTT
When you remember that there are still THOUSANDS of soldiers unaccounted for from Korea and Vietnam, it is amazing that there is only ONE from this war. I pray that he is found, alive, but if not, at least I hope they find something to account for his whereabouts.
God bless Keith and his family. He is the candle in the window that represents all our brave young men and women.
Got to thinking perhaps we all can send a card to his family.
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Great idea. Please ping me if you get the address info.
Monday when W arrived at CVG in AF1, Sgt, Maupin parents joined him and rode with him to the ballpark. God bless them, Sgt. Maupin and this great President.
Some of my military friends and I were talking about him just last week. I hadn't realized it had been two years already.
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