Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Boston Globe
July 11, 2008
Pg. 1
Closure in Lawrence as body of man seized in Iraq in '07 found
By Milton J. Valencia and Jeannie Nuss, Globe Correspondent
LAWRENCE -- The body of Alex R. Jimenez, a Lawrence soldier who was kidnapped by Al Qaeda-linked terrorists more than a year ago, has been found in Iraq in a tragic ending to a family's desperate hope for his return.
Jimenez's father, Ramon "Andy" Jimenez, was notified by the Army yesterday that his son's body was found two days ago by Iraqi authorities, who contacted their American counterparts. He was identified by dental records. The body of a comrade who went missing at the same time was also found.
The elder Jimenez, often rubbing his moist eyes, had held out hope that he would one day see his son's return. But last night he seemed to come to terms with the news.
"It comforts you when you accept something, and Alex did what he wanted to do," said Andy Jimenez, who was joined yesterday by friends, family, and a community of supporters who had rallied around him since Alex Jimenez first went missing on May 12, 2007.
Sergeant Alex Jimenez, an Army specialist who was promoted in January, was 25 when he and other members of the Second Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division were ambushed while on patrol on a deserted highway south of Baghdad. Four other members of his unit and an Iraqi translator were also killed.
Jimenez and two other soldiers were kidnapped. The body of Private First Class Joseph J. Anzack Jr., 20, of Torrance, Calif., was discovered in a river 11 days later. Private Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Mich., was kidnapped with Jimenez, and his body was also found by Iraqi authorities Wednesday.
Two Pentagon officials with knowledge of the case said that the military plans to announce the discovery of Jimenez's body today, in accordance with Pentagon policy that no announcement will be made until 24 hours after a family is notified.
Andy Jimenez, 54, a carpenter, was leaving for work yesterday when he returned home to retrieve a cellphone. His niece told him Army officials had been there. Later, three officials returned, including a chaplain and a Spanish-speaking soldier to communicate with him.
Yesterday, a community that had embraced the Jimenez family continued to support the father. An American flag hung from his home near a sign that read, "Until they are home."
"Hopefully we can just be here for them in anything that they need," said City Councilor Grisel Silva, who represents the district where the family lives. She was visiting with the family last night.
"It's very sad, it's hitting us very closely," she said. "The community has strongly been very involved with the Jimenez family in this situation. The good thing is now they'll be able to have some closure."
Jim Wareing, of the New England Caring for Our Military, a family support group, said the agency set up a meeting of the Jimenez and Fouty families with President Bush on Memorial Day to show support. Several of the soldiers who served with their sons also spoke with the families in an arranged telephone call.
"The community spirit here has been unbelievable for the Jimenez family," Wareing said. He also spoke with the Fouty family yesterday. "It's just so hard for someone on the outside to know what the last year and two months have been like."
Alex Jimenez was born in Lawrence, after his family emigrated from the Dominican Republic. His family has a history of serving in the army of that country.
When he was just a child, he wanted to be in the service, family and friends said. His father had always respected his decision, said family friend Wendy Luzón.
Two years ago, Jimenez came home from Iraq to attend his grandmother's funeral. But his father realized his son's love for the Army when he said he wanted to return to Iraq soon after.
"Yes, he always wanted to be there," Andy Jimenez said, noting it was his son's dreams to be a soldier.
He showed a letter his son wrote in high school stating his intention to join the military.
"Alex wanted his people to see how he felt about the Army and how he wanted to be there," Andy Jimenez said. "Yes, he always wanted to be there. Even when he came back [to the United States], he wanted to go back to Iraq.
"He wanted to make a difference in the galaxy, not only in the world, to bring peace to those who needed it," said Sandy Almonte, a family friend from Methuen.
Luzón said the long search for Jimenez has taken a heavy toll on his father. He has attended peace rallies and wears POW hats. He also has called members of his son's unit, who returned in September, members of his own family.
Andy Jimenez also had to contend with many different calls from the Army - that they had found his Army ID or his gun or some clothing.
Yesterday was the final notice, and it brought closure.
"There's no more hope," Luzón said. "He kept hoping that he was coming back."
Mayor Michael Sullivan spoke of the city's sorrow.
"As the city of Lawrence, we're mourning tonight," he said. "We've been praying so much that Alex was going to come home and we were going to have a party for him. The city stands with him."
As of yesterday, no plans for a burial had been finalized, but it will have full military honors.
Bryan Bender of the Globe staff and Globe Correspondent John Guilfoil contributed to this report.
July 11, 2008
Pg. 1
Closure in Lawrence as body of man seized in Iraq in '07 found
By Milton J. Valencia and Jeannie Nuss, Globe Correspondent
LAWRENCE -- The body of Alex R. Jimenez, a Lawrence soldier who was kidnapped by Al Qaeda-linked terrorists more than a year ago, has been found in Iraq in a tragic ending to a family's desperate hope for his return.
Jimenez's father, Ramon "Andy" Jimenez, was notified by the Army yesterday that his son's body was found two days ago by Iraqi authorities, who contacted their American counterparts. He was identified by dental records. The body of a comrade who went missing at the same time was also found.
The elder Jimenez, often rubbing his moist eyes, had held out hope that he would one day see his son's return. But last night he seemed to come to terms with the news.
"It comforts you when you accept something, and Alex did what he wanted to do," said Andy Jimenez, who was joined yesterday by friends, family, and a community of supporters who had rallied around him since Alex Jimenez first went missing on May 12, 2007.
Sergeant Alex Jimenez, an Army specialist who was promoted in January, was 25 when he and other members of the Second Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division were ambushed while on patrol on a deserted highway south of Baghdad. Four other members of his unit and an Iraqi translator were also killed.
Jimenez and two other soldiers were kidnapped. The body of Private First Class Joseph J. Anzack Jr., 20, of Torrance, Calif., was discovered in a river 11 days later. Private Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Mich., was kidnapped with Jimenez, and his body was also found by Iraqi authorities Wednesday.
Two Pentagon officials with knowledge of the case said that the military plans to announce the discovery of Jimenez's body today, in accordance with Pentagon policy that no announcement will be made until 24 hours after a family is notified.
Andy Jimenez, 54, a carpenter, was leaving for work yesterday when he returned home to retrieve a cellphone. His niece told him Army officials had been there. Later, three officials returned, including a chaplain and a Spanish-speaking soldier to communicate with him.
Yesterday, a community that had embraced the Jimenez family continued to support the father. An American flag hung from his home near a sign that read, "Until they are home."
"Hopefully we can just be here for them in anything that they need," said City Councilor Grisel Silva, who represents the district where the family lives. She was visiting with the family last night.
"It's very sad, it's hitting us very closely," she said. "The community has strongly been very involved with the Jimenez family in this situation. The good thing is now they'll be able to have some closure."
Jim Wareing, of the New England Caring for Our Military, a family support group, said the agency set up a meeting of the Jimenez and Fouty families with President Bush on Memorial Day to show support. Several of the soldiers who served with their sons also spoke with the families in an arranged telephone call.
"The community spirit here has been unbelievable for the Jimenez family," Wareing said. He also spoke with the Fouty family yesterday. "It's just so hard for someone on the outside to know what the last year and two months have been like."
Alex Jimenez was born in Lawrence, after his family emigrated from the Dominican Republic. His family has a history of serving in the army of that country.
When he was just a child, he wanted to be in the service, family and friends said. His father had always respected his decision, said family friend Wendy Luzón.
Two years ago, Jimenez came home from Iraq to attend his grandmother's funeral. But his father realized his son's love for the Army when he said he wanted to return to Iraq soon after.
"Yes, he always wanted to be there," Andy Jimenez said, noting it was his son's dreams to be a soldier.
He showed a letter his son wrote in high school stating his intention to join the military.
"Alex wanted his people to see how he felt about the Army and how he wanted to be there," Andy Jimenez said. "Yes, he always wanted to be there. Even when he came back [to the United States], he wanted to go back to Iraq.
"He wanted to make a difference in the galaxy, not only in the world, to bring peace to those who needed it," said Sandy Almonte, a family friend from Methuen.
Luzón said the long search for Jimenez has taken a heavy toll on his father. He has attended peace rallies and wears POW hats. He also has called members of his son's unit, who returned in September, members of his own family.
Andy Jimenez also had to contend with many different calls from the Army - that they had found his Army ID or his gun or some clothing.
Yesterday was the final notice, and it brought closure.
"There's no more hope," Luzón said. "He kept hoping that he was coming back."
Mayor Michael Sullivan spoke of the city's sorrow.
"As the city of Lawrence, we're mourning tonight," he said. "We've been praying so much that Alex was going to come home and we were going to have a party for him. The city stands with him."
As of yesterday, no plans for a burial had been finalized, but it will have full military honors.
Bryan Bender of the Globe staff and Globe Correspondent John Guilfoil contributed to this report.
