Military Searches Triangle of Death for Missing Soldiers

Foxnews.com ^ | 6-17-06 | AP

[jackv]

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The U.S. troops searched Saturday for two soldiers that went missing after an attack that killed one of their comrades at a traffic checkpoint in the so-called "Triangle of Death" just south of Baghdad, the military said.

U.S. Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said four raids had been carried out since Friday's attack and that ground forces, helicopters and airplanes were taking part in the search.

Countrywatch: Iraq

The soldiers came under attack at a traffic checkpoint southwest of Youssifiyah, 12 miles south of Baghdad. A quick reaction force arrived at the scene after hearing small arms fire and explosions, according to the military.

"We are currently using every means at our disposal on the ground, in the air and in the water to find them," Caldwell said.

He said that troops at an adjacent traffic control point heard an explosion and small arms fire just before dark in the vicinity of the checkpoint where the attack occurred at a canal crossing near the Euphrates River.

A quick reaction force reached the scene within 15 minutes, found the dead soldier but not the other two. A dive team was to search the canal.

[jackv]

Pray for these soldiers people. Pray!!

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Prayers for our boys! God help 'em if they were captured.

[new yorker 77]

MSM hoping they have been captured so they can be displayed on camera.

Meanwhile in other news, soldiers kick terrorist butt.

[Steel Wolf]

The soldiers came under attack at a traffic checkpoint southwest of Youssifiyah, 12 miles south of Baghdad.

That's a pretty bad place. It's a rural area with lots of isolated farm houses, Sunni extremist sympathizers, and a history of kidnap-for-ransom activity. If some of the locals spotted a poorly defended checkpoint, they may have taken it upon themselves to 'acquire' some hostages, and would likely sell them to al-Qa'ida in Iraq or some other group.

[mware]

I will be going to Mass in a few minutes. I'll be lighting two candels for them, and another for the one who died.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I see your ding-dong missile and raise you a Minuteman.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Wrong thread, need more coffee.

[AmericaUnite]

Prayers sent.

[freema]

Better to be in the brig? ping.

[STARWISE]

Please pray for their safety ...

[SE Mom]

Have been praying "without ceasing" since hearing of this last night..

[MozartLover]

Oh no.....................

Prayers going up...

[Cinnamon]

Prayers for these fine soldiers.. do not despair, God willing, you will find yourself being rescued by some of our finest. God bless you

[xzins]

This is odd, but both articles I've read on this do NOT specifically say that these are missing US troops.

Does anyone have a link that specifically says these are United States troops?

[Steel Wolf]

From http://www.mnf-iraq.com/Releases/2006-06/060617a.htm

---

The use of the word 'Soldiers', as opposed to 'soldiers', is current U.S. Army-ese for saying that their ours.

---

Press Release



MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE - IRAQ
COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
BAGHDAD, Iraq
http://www.mnf-iraq.com
703.270.0320 / 0299

June 17, 2006
Release A060617a

MNF-I spokesman makes statement regarding status of missing Soldiers

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Major Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, Multi-National Force - Iraq spokesman, announced that a Coalition forces soldier was killed and two others are listed as duty status and whereabouts unknown in the following statement June 17:

“Good Afternoon.

Last night, a Coalition force Soldier was killed and two others are currently listed as Duty Status and Whereabouts Unknown after their security element came under attack at a traffic control point south of Yusifiyah, Iraq, at approximately

7:55 p.m. local time, Friday, June 16th. The names of the Soldiers are being withheld pending notification of their next of kin.

Coalition forces and Iraqi security forces initiated a search operation within minutes to determine the status of these Soldiers, and we are currently using every means at our disposal on the ground, in the air and in the water to find them.

The specifics of this situation currently available for release are as follows:

Coalition forces at an adjacent traffic control point heard an explosion and small arms fire at approximately 7:55 p.m. last night in the vicinity of the missing Soldier's checkpoint, at a canal crossing near the Euphrates River in the vicinity of Yusifiyah.

After being unable to communicate with the check point, a auick reaction force was launched, arriving on scene within 15 minutes.

The quick reaction force reported finding one Soldier killed in action and two Soldiers duty status and whereabouts unknown.

All traffic control points were notified to stop civilian traffic and increase security.

Helicopter, unmanned aerial vehicle and fixed wing assets provided reconnaissance over and around the site.

A dive team was requested.

Within an hour of the incident, blocking positions were established throughout the area in a concerted effort to focus the search and prevent movement of suspects out of the area.

Three raids were conducted during the night on suspected possible locations, and a fourth operation was conducted this morning.

Coalition Forces engaged with local leaders in the area to enlist the support of civilians in providing any information they could, and these engagements continue.

Dive teams are now on site, working the canals and river.

There is cross coordination among adjacent units to develop actionable intelligence on our Soldiers' whereabouts.

We are using all available assets, Coalition and Iraqi – ground, air and water – to locate and determine the duty status of our Soldiers. We continue today to search for Sgt. Matt Maupin, captured in April of 2004. We continue to search using every means available and will not stop looking until we find the missing Soldiers. Make no mistake: we never stop looking for our service members until their status is definitively determined, and we will continue to pray for their safe return.”

[Steel Wolf]

The use of the word 'Soldiers', as opposed to 'soldiers', is current U.S. Army-ese for saying that their ours.

Make that

The use of the word 'Soldiers', as opposed to 'soldiers', is current U.S. Army-ese for saying that they're ours.

[MediaMole]

The version of the story here states that these are two US soldiers.

Slightly off topic, I am very puzzled why this was pulled from Breaking News.

[MozartLover]

Divers Search For Missing U.S. Soldiers In Iraq

Still no mention of their unit.............

[MozartLover]

Could we get this back in breaking news, please?

These guys need our prayers...

[xzins]

Thanks for the info, SW. The part about "pending notification of next of kin" pretty well settles it for me.

As to why it was pulled from breaking news, my guess is that someone had already posted an earlier version of the story.