Posted on 04/07/2007 7:35:25 PM PDT by Muentzer2005
BATAVIA, Ohio - Yellow ribbons across Sgt. Matt Maupin's hometown are constant reminders. Fundraising events in his honor draw overflow crowds. Soldiers back home relay details of the ongoing search for him in Iraq.
These are the signs of support and hope that keep Maupin's parents going three years after he was captured in an insurgent attack on his Army convoy.
Keith Maupin said he took comfort hearing from the father of a military interrogator in Iraq who said detainees are asked if they know anything about his missing son.
"He said, 'These guys are not going to give up on Matt. Their mission is to stay focused on finding Matt and get all the information they can out of these detainees,'" Keith Maupin said. "That made me feel good."
The Army won't confirm that detainees are questioned about Maupin.
"We don't talk about what we are or aren't doing," Lt. Col. Bob Tallman said. "We don't want to alert the enemy, who may do something to the individual or move him."
Sgt. Keith Matthew Maupin was always called Matt by his parents, since his father was named Keith. He was a 20-year-old private first class when he was captured April 9, 2004, when his fuel convoy, part of the 724th Transportation Company, was ambushed west of Baghdad.
A week later, the Arab television network Al-Jazeera aired a videotape showing Maupin sitting on the floor surrounded by five masked men holding automatic rifles.
That June, Al-Jazeera aired another tape purporting to show a U.S. soldier being shot. But the dark and grainy tape showed only the back of the victim's head and not the actual shooting.
The Maupins refuse to believe it was their son, and the Army continues to list him as missing/captured, Tallman said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Matt remains in front in my life. On my desk, and on my wrist.
As he shall remain in my daily prayers.
SSgt. Maupin may be missing, but he is not forgotten.
God bless Matt Maupin and his family. May they be comforted - he is not forgotten.
God bless all of you who remember this man.
Navy Bump.
Not forgotten, prayers up.
Not forgotten...
Prayers for Sgt. Maupin and for his safe return.
I pray for Matt daily during my Rosary. For me, he represents them all. That is what makes him so easy to recall every day. God bless Matt and his family.
He will never be forgotten.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.