Bodies of 2 missing US soldiers are found in Iraq
By DAVID AGUILAR
July 11, 2008 DETROIT (AP) — Families say the bodies of two U.S. soldiers missing in Iraq for more than a year have been found. The father of Army Sgt. Alex Jimenez of Lawrence, Mass., says the military told him Thursday that the remains of his son were identified in Iraq. The stepfather of Pfc. Byron Fouty of Waterford, Mich. , says that soldier's remains were also found there. Nineteen-year-old Fouty and 25-year-old Jimenez had been missing since May 12, 2007. The Pentagon has made no official announcement. It usually does not release news publicly until 24 hours after families are notified.
Body of missing Lawrence soldier found in Iraq By Yadira Betances
Staff writer LAWRENCE — The body of Army Sgt. Alex Jimenez of Lawrence, who has been missing in Iraq for more than a year, has been found. Military officials told his family members in Lawrence and New York on Thursday that the body was identified through dental records. Jimenez, 25, had been missing since May 12, 2007. He was among three members of the 2nd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division kidnapped by terrorists during an ambush south of Baghdad. Four other soldiers were killed in the attack. Jimenez's father, Andy Jimenez, a construction worker from Lawrence, was informed by uniformed military officials who went to his home early Thursday evening. "I have lost all hope. Oh my God. I have lost all hope," Andy Jimenez said upon learning his son's fate. The news saddened the city. "I know this is going to hurt all of us tomorrow when the news is out because we had been waiting for the day when he would return home," said Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan. "I had so much hope that he was going to come home. And I know his mom and dad and wife and kids felt the same way." "Tomorrow will be a sad day for Lawrence and people throughout the country," the mayor added. "He's with God in heaven now. Alex will always go down as a hero. He died for our country and for us to remain free." The mayor said he will meet with Veterans Services Director Francisco Urena to decide what steps the city will take to honor the fallen soldier and to assist the family, including the possibilities of having flags throughout the city fly at half staff. "On behalf of the city, we're saddened for the Jimenez family," Sullivan said. "We prayed and wished he was going to come home one day and that never happened. The city stands ready to assist the family in any way to remove their pain." | 
