The Remains of Sgt. Matt Maupin Identified in Iraq
Debbie Hamilton at Right Truth on Mar 31 2008 at 6:03 am | Filed under: A Salute to Our Soldiers, Feature Article, Iraq, The War on Terror
After nearly four years of hoping, waiting and praying, the family of Sgt. Keith Matthew Maupin (captured by insurgents in April 2004) learned Sunday that their missing son died in Iraq.
A Defense Department official also confirmed the identification, saying Maupin’s remains were found last week but DNA results just came in.Maupin, who was 20 at the time of his capture, and another soldier, Sgt. Elmer Krause, 40, were captured by insurgents April 9, 2004, after their convoy came under attack near Baghdad International Airport. A week later, Maupin was shown on a videotape, surrounded by several armed masked men.
“My name is Keith Matthew Maupin,” he stated in the video. “I am a soldier from the First Division. I am married with a 10-month-old child. I came to liberate Iraq, but I did not come willingly because I wanted to stay with my child.”
Krause’s body was found two weeks later.
Later that summer, Al-Jazeera aired a videotape purportedly showing the execution of Maupin, but U.S. officials haven’t confirmed the identity of the person on the tape.
The U.S. Army continued to promote Maupin, who was a private first class in the Army Reserves at the time of his capture, to sergeant and then staff sergeant as they searched for him.
Three U.S. troops remain missing in the five-year-old Iraq war: Pvt. Byron W. Fouty and Spc. Alex R. Jimenez have been missing since their military convoy was raided west of Mahmoudiya May 12.
Spc. Ahmed K. Altaie disappeared October 23, 2006, and his status was changed to “missing-captured” nearly two months later. (CNN)
Hat tip Texas Fred who expresses my thoughts:
Rest in Peace Matt, you served bravely and you did your duty, you’re coming home now, and your Mom and Dad can have some peace in just knowing your fate, I hate the word closure, but for lack of a better word, maybe they can finally have some closure.All our love and sympathy to the Maupin family, and to ALL the families of our brave troops that have given their lives in the line of duty.
My name is Matt Maupin - Please remember my face
Rest in peace, Sgt. Maupin. Rest in peace.
Sgt. Maupin’s family runs Operation Yellow Ribbon which does have a guest book. (Military Families Voice of Victory)
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