U.S. Releases Names of Two Soldiers Missing in Iraq (Update2)
June 19 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. military released the names of two soldiers missing in Iraq since a checkpoint they were manning came under attack on June 16. A third soldier was killed in the assault.
A group allied with al-Qaeda today said it kidnapped the soldiers, according to a statement on an Islamist Web site, Sky News reported.
A search is under way for Private First Class Kristian Menchaca, 23, and Private First Class Thomas L. Tucker, 25, the Department of Defense said in a statement e-mailed late yesterday. Specialist David J. Babineau, 25, was killed, the military said. The search began within minutes of the attack, after communications with the checkpoint ended, Major General William Caldwell said yesterday.
``We're just simply trying to find them, and we're hoping that they're alive,'' White House spokesman Tony Snow said yesterday on ``Fox News Sunday.''
The missing soldiers were part of a unit checking vehicles at a canal crossing near the Euphrates River, in the vicinity of Yusifyah south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Coalition soldiers nearby reported hearing an explosion and small-arms fire at about 7:55 p.m., Caldwell said.
`A Hotbed'
The region ``has been a hotbed for activities of the insurgents to launch attacks into Baghdad,'' Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on CNN's ``Late Edition'' yesterday. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq who died from injuries after a June 7 air strike near Baghdad, operated in the area, Zebari said.
Iraqis in the area said they saw two soldiers being led by insurgents to a pair of cars after a gun battle, the New York Times reported, citing telephone interviews.
More than 8,000 U.S. military and Iraqi Army and police personnel are conducting an ``intensive search operation to determine the status of these soldiers,'' Caldwell said in a separate e-mailed statement. During the search, seven U.S. service members were wounded in action, three members of ``anti- Iraqi'' forces were killed and 34 detainees were taken into custody, according to the statement.
Diving teams have been searching the canals and river, Caldwell said. Sixty-three tips were received, he said.
``We are using all available assets -- coalition and Iraqi, ground, air and water -- to locate and determine the duty status of our soldiers,'' Caldwell said.
Fort Campbell
All three soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion of the 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), from Fort Campbell, according to the statement.
``We hope they will be found and join their units safely, but these incidents happen,'' Zebari said. ``It's a state of conflict.''
Military officials say they also are continuing to search for Sergeant Keith ``Matt'' Maupin, who was captured in April 2004. Although insurgents later released a video that purported to show Maupin being shot to death, U.S. officials say the video wasn't conclusive.
To contact the reporters on this story:
Greg Stohr in Washington at gstohr@bloomberg.net;
Greg Ahlstrand in Hong Kong at gahlstrand@bloomberg.net.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aolc3WS1j.tc&refer=top_world_news
Oregon Soldier Missing In Iraq, Reports Of Kidnapping
Group Claims Responsibility
MADRAS, Ore. -- An Oregon soldier is missing in Iraq.
The U.S. Department of Defense says three soldiers were manning a checkpoint Friday in Baghdad when they come under enemy small arms fire.
Spc. David J. Babineau, 25, of Springfield, Mass., was killed in the attack.
Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker, 25, of Madras, and Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston, Texas, are missing. All three were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
An Iraqi farmer reported seeing three U.S. vehicles come under fire, two chasing after the assailants. He said gunmen attacked the third vehicle, killing the driver and taking two soldiers captive.
An umbrella group that includes al-Qaida in Iraq claimed in a Web statement that it had kidnapped the two U.S. soldiers.
The reports have not been confirmed.
The White House has promised to do everything it can to find the soldiers.
http://www.koin.com/news.asp?RECORD_KEY%5Bnews%5D=ID&ID%5Bnews%5D=4680