lovemygoofy
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2004
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These missing soldiers are my dh's brothers in arms but its completely different when it's from our home. We are all screaming eagles and we don't leave brothers or sisters behind at all cost. I don't know these soldiers, couldn't tell you what they look like; but here we are all one big ragtag family. I will be at the candle light vigil tonight, praying they find my "family members." Please pray for them and their families. This is every families worst nightmare. Not knowing, just sitting and waiting and praying. Thank you
Missing troops from 101st
101st soldier killed, two kidnapped during attack on checkpoint in Iraq
By CHANTAL ESCOTO
The Leaf-Chronicle
One soldier who was killed and two others kidnapped at a checkpoint in Yusufiyah, Iraq, Friday belonged to the 101st Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
Spc. David J. Babineau, 25, of Springfield, Mass., was killed after their traffic control checkpoint came under enemy attack, said Fort Campbell Public Affairs spokesman John Minton.
The two missing soldiers are Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston, Texas, and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore. All infantrymen were assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment.
Ahmed Khalaf Falah, a farmer who said he witnessed the attack Friday, said three Humvees were manning a checkpoint when they came under fire from many directions. Two Humvees went after the assailants, but the third was ambushed before it could move, he told The Associated Press.
Seven masked gunmen, including one carrying what Falah described as a heavy machine gun, killed the driver of the third vehicle, then took the two other U.S. soldiers captive, the witness said. His account could not be verified independently.
Another Iraqi said the Americans were offering $100,000 for information leading to the abductors, but the U.S. command denied that.
The White House promised to do everything it could to find the soldiers and said it had a message for anybody who may have taken the two men: "Give them back."
More about the soldiers
Babineau joined the Army in August 1998 and came to Fort Campbell the following December. He is survived by his wife, Rondi, and sons, Dominic and Donovan Babineau and stepdaughter Samantha Hensley, all of Oak Grove, Ky. His parents Paul and Dawn Babineau live in Springfield, Mass.
Menchaca entered the Army in March 2005 and arrived to Fort Campbell four months later. His survivors include his wife Christine Alvarez of Big Springs, Texas, and a mother and stepfather Martha and Sergio Vasquez of Houston, Texas.
Tucker arrived at Fort Campbell in Dec. 2005. He is survived by his parents Wesley and Margret Tucker of Burns, Ore.
Multinational Force Iraq spokesman Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said the missing soldiers are listed as "duty status and whereabouts unknown." The category changes to "missing in action" if they are not found after 10 days.
Caldwell said a squad of on-call armed U.S. soldiers, called a quick-reaction force, responded within 15 minutes to the attack site.
Coalition forces continue to search for the two missing soldiers who were manning the checkpoint at a canal crossing near the Euphrates River.
The search
U.S. troops, backed by helicopters and warplanes, fanned out across the "Triangle of Death" south of Baghdad searching for the missing servicemen. At least four raids had been carried out, but the captives were not found, the military said.
White House spokesman Tony Snow said he had no new information about the search and could not confirm reports the two men were abducted.
"We're still trying to ascertain their whereabouts," he told CNN's "Late Edition." "Obviously, there is a vigorous effort to try to locate them and to bring them back safely."
A U.S. military spokesman, Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, said Saturday a dive team also was searching for the men, whose checkpoint was near a Euphrates River canal not far from Youssifiyah, 12 miles south of Baghdad. The Sunni region is the site of frequent ambushes of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi troops.
The U.S. military said Sunday it was continuing the search.
"Coalition and Iraqi forces will continue to search everywhere possible, uncovering every stone, until our soldiers are found, and we will continue to use every resource available in our search," it said.
Falah also said tensions were high in the area as U.S. soldiers raided some houses and arrested men. He also said the Americans were setting up checkpoints on all roads leading to the area of the attack and helicopters were hovering at low altitudes.
A Youssifiyah resident, who claimed his house was searched by U.S. soldiers Sunday afternoon, also said the Americans used translators to offer $100,000 for information leading to those who took the soldiers.
He said he would not cooperate because he was angry with the Americans.
"I will not do it even if they pay $1 million," the resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he feared retribution. "They deserve all that they are facing ... We are living a hard life because of them."
Caldwell said, "We are currently using every means at our disposal on the ground, in the air and in the water to find them," said Caldwell, the spokesman for U.S. forces in Baghdad.
Missing troops from 101st
101st soldier killed, two kidnapped during attack on checkpoint in Iraq
By CHANTAL ESCOTO
The Leaf-Chronicle
One soldier who was killed and two others kidnapped at a checkpoint in Yusufiyah, Iraq, Friday belonged to the 101st Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
Spc. David J. Babineau, 25, of Springfield, Mass., was killed after their traffic control checkpoint came under enemy attack, said Fort Campbell Public Affairs spokesman John Minton.
The two missing soldiers are Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston, Texas, and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore. All infantrymen were assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment.
Ahmed Khalaf Falah, a farmer who said he witnessed the attack Friday, said three Humvees were manning a checkpoint when they came under fire from many directions. Two Humvees went after the assailants, but the third was ambushed before it could move, he told The Associated Press.
Seven masked gunmen, including one carrying what Falah described as a heavy machine gun, killed the driver of the third vehicle, then took the two other U.S. soldiers captive, the witness said. His account could not be verified independently.
Another Iraqi said the Americans were offering $100,000 for information leading to the abductors, but the U.S. command denied that.
The White House promised to do everything it could to find the soldiers and said it had a message for anybody who may have taken the two men: "Give them back."
More about the soldiers
Babineau joined the Army in August 1998 and came to Fort Campbell the following December. He is survived by his wife, Rondi, and sons, Dominic and Donovan Babineau and stepdaughter Samantha Hensley, all of Oak Grove, Ky. His parents Paul and Dawn Babineau live in Springfield, Mass.
Menchaca entered the Army in March 2005 and arrived to Fort Campbell four months later. His survivors include his wife Christine Alvarez of Big Springs, Texas, and a mother and stepfather Martha and Sergio Vasquez of Houston, Texas.
Tucker arrived at Fort Campbell in Dec. 2005. He is survived by his parents Wesley and Margret Tucker of Burns, Ore.
Multinational Force Iraq spokesman Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said the missing soldiers are listed as "duty status and whereabouts unknown." The category changes to "missing in action" if they are not found after 10 days.
Caldwell said a squad of on-call armed U.S. soldiers, called a quick-reaction force, responded within 15 minutes to the attack site.
Coalition forces continue to search for the two missing soldiers who were manning the checkpoint at a canal crossing near the Euphrates River.
The search
U.S. troops, backed by helicopters and warplanes, fanned out across the "Triangle of Death" south of Baghdad searching for the missing servicemen. At least four raids had been carried out, but the captives were not found, the military said.
White House spokesman Tony Snow said he had no new information about the search and could not confirm reports the two men were abducted.
"We're still trying to ascertain their whereabouts," he told CNN's "Late Edition." "Obviously, there is a vigorous effort to try to locate them and to bring them back safely."
A U.S. military spokesman, Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, said Saturday a dive team also was searching for the men, whose checkpoint was near a Euphrates River canal not far from Youssifiyah, 12 miles south of Baghdad. The Sunni region is the site of frequent ambushes of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi troops.
The U.S. military said Sunday it was continuing the search.
"Coalition and Iraqi forces will continue to search everywhere possible, uncovering every stone, until our soldiers are found, and we will continue to use every resource available in our search," it said.
Falah also said tensions were high in the area as U.S. soldiers raided some houses and arrested men. He also said the Americans were setting up checkpoints on all roads leading to the area of the attack and helicopters were hovering at low altitudes.
A Youssifiyah resident, who claimed his house was searched by U.S. soldiers Sunday afternoon, also said the Americans used translators to offer $100,000 for information leading to those who took the soldiers.
He said he would not cooperate because he was angry with the Americans.
"I will not do it even if they pay $1 million," the resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he feared retribution. "They deserve all that they are facing ... We are living a hard life because of them."
Caldwell said, "We are currently using every means at our disposal on the ground, in the air and in the water to find them," said Caldwell, the spokesman for U.S. forces in Baghdad.
Praying for their safe return. 
. I am thinking postive, praying for and keeping faith for our soldiers to be found unharmed. May our lost soldier who paid the ultimate price rest in peace and prayers also for his family that God will help them through their most difficult days 
Love and prayers from a Proud Army Mom
