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

American Forces Press Service ^ | Gerry J. Gilmore

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2007 – 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.

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.

“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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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

“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.”

Biographies:
Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, USA

Related Sites:
Multinational Force Iraq

Related Articles:
Five Soldiers Killed in Iraq, Three Missing

[jwalsh07]

The Russians have a very efficient way of sdealing with kidnappings by islamonuts. John McCain and Areln Spector wouldn’t like it but really, who gives a crap what they like if we have a chance to get our guys back.

[SandRat]

I know of the incident and methods of which you speak - some parts are more important than other parts.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

TANKS for the pings Rat,,,This is my house-mate’s Son’s unit,,,(T.F.2/15 F.A.),,,none of the maps seem to match to
well,,,

[SandRat]

You know how the photo-recon and photo-interp guys are.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Got That Rite,,,found a few that I can’t import,,,
still lookin’...

[airborne]

This is a tough time for all of our troops and especially hard on their loved ones worrying back home.

I’ll keep praying for our soldiers to be rescued, and for their loved ones who must be worried sick.

If they aren’t released safely, we need to respond swiftly and mercilessly.

[SandRat]

even worse when they want to print out a map from the ingested electronic data after analysis on the DTSS.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

I like my maps 2’X3’ paper,,,That age thing,,,;0)

[SandRat]

LOL!

[MEG33]

Hear our prayer ,O Lord..Amen

[MEG33]

;0)
I’m with you..

[RushLake]

Not to put too fine a point on it, I think that it would be more appropriate to refer to the islamic filth that took these warriors as islamic filth, trash, excrement, terrorists, etc.

My little cats Stinky and Little Bit and Maybelline the mutt are animals, and they resent the comparison. I'm not trying to be flippant either. Everytime I hear Hannity refer to the islamic filth as "animals", I cringe. I don't hear him refer to them as animals as much because I don't listen as much as I used to. Animals are incapable of acting as the islamic filth act.

That being said, I will continue to Pray. I will also remember that, everytime I encounter a muslim in my daily life I am encountering someone that hates me and wishes me, my country, and our warriors no good.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Hopefully we won’t get lost...;0)