8 Bodies Found in Raid Were U.S. Soldiers

AP | 4/05/03

[2Jedismom]

The guy that was relieved was Joe Dowdy, from Arkansas...this soldier is Robert J. Dowdy from Cleveland. I wonder if they are related?

[Jael]

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=15582

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--An American soldier listed as missing in action apparently accepted Christ and was baptized several days before being captured.

James M. Kiehl, 22, of Comfort, Texas, was the focus of a report on Dallas' KTVT-TV March 26, during which Kiehl was seen being immersed in the middle of the desert.

Kiehl is one of seven members of the 507th Maintenance Company -- part of the 111th Air Defense Artillery Brigade stationed in Fort Bliss, Texas -- listed as missing in action. Five other members of the 507th have been seen on Iraqi television and are listed as prisoners of war.

During the television report, KTVT's Robert Riggs said Kiehl "seemed to have a deeper awareness about the dangers of combat than any soldier we talked to."

"You've always got the threat of something new," Kiehl said during the report. "Every morning you wake up and it's happening on that morning."

Riggs reported that Kiehl "turned his life over to Christ shortly before the launch of the ground attack. ... His moment of decision had been prompted by a call from home -- a family member told him it was time to pick the right path for his life."

Kiehl's wife, Jill, is pregnant with the couple's first child and is due the last week of April, according to KFOX-TV in El Paso, Texas.

"You know, your mind wants to play tricks on you and you always wonder," she said in an ABC News report. "Missing in action is pretty general. You don't know whether he's alive or dead. You just know, they don't know where he's at."

Another member of Kiehl's company, prisoner of war Patrick Miller, 23, from Valley Center, Kan., accepted Christ during marriage counseling sessions at Olivet Baptist Church in Wichita last year, Baptist Press reported March 25.

[patriciaruth]

the POWs: Patrick Miller, Joseph Hudson, Edgar Hernandez, James Riley, and Shoshana Johnson from the 507th; David Williams and Ronald Young from the Apache helicopter.

[LurkerNoMore!]

Thank you, patriciaruth

[DoughtyOne]

Yes, damn. As bad as her wounds and treatment must have been, Jessica's deepest wound most likely was having to watch her fellow men killed before her. This will go down as one of the darkest episodes of this war.

[abner]

Thank you for the clarification. I appreciate it, and hope the list stays right where it is or shrinks with some more butt-whoopings from our special forces!

[patriciaruth]

Top Ten Things Saddam Hussein will be doing this weekend--Letterman

1. Kissing his ass goodbye!

[abner]

I'm cautiously optimistic about his assessment. LOL!

[KC_Conspirator]

I noticed the same thing. It makes sense if there is some relation and some of people have an apology coming if they are relation. Some of those threads on Commander Dowdy's dismissla were pretty harsh.

[SupportDubya]

How would someone send a message (via US Mail) of encouragement to all these families? Does anyone have an address (or addresses)? I figure it's the least I can do. I've seen the address for the Lynch Family, but what about the others? They, above all, should NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

[FreedomPoster]

I'm sure it's already been said here, but I doubt we're taking many prisoners who have resisted at all, right now.

[SpookBrat]

Blessed Assurance *ping*. Please read post 43. This thread made me cry, but praise God for their salvation. Pray for the pregnant mother who is due at the end of this month.

[happygrl]

Comfort the families of our youngest and bravest, dear Lord, and comfort our own grieving hearts ...

Amen.

[sweetliberty]

"Since they were shown on film, I think their chances for survival are better."

I sure hope you're right. It would be great to have more Jessica Lynch stories.

[happygrl]

If I understand what you are saying, it is that, once they found out Sgt. Dowdy was among the dead (executed possibly), the Command removed his relative Col.Dowdy (cousin, brother ?) from his position. Possibly they might have thought it would affect his ability to command ?

[Guenevere]

Like you, I noticed the name, and wondered if this indeed, was connected.

So very sad.....

[MtHLancerFan]

How would someone send a message (via US Mail) of encouragement to all these families? Does anyone have an address (or addresses)?

If it were me, I'd find the address of the unit they were in. For example, the 507th Maintenance is apparently at Fort Bliss. I didn't find an address for 507th at Fort Bliss but did find a Chaplain's office. You might be able to send things there to the attention of specific families.

Center Staff Chaplains Office
Family Life Center and Religious Activities Center
PO Box 6095
Fort Bliss, TX 79906

[LadyX]

Thank you SpookBrat, for the hail.

Sadly, the first name on the list was from my small town in South Carolina - just 31 years old.

My niece relayed yesterday another KIA and one MIA are from Melbourne, Florida, where I used to live, as she had also.
A friend of hers is the sister of the MIA, with another brother about to deploy.

[Guenevere]

Yes, from Palm Bay/Melbourne....where I lived for over 20 years.

It sure hits home.