2 Missing Soldiers' Bodies Found In Iraq

Parents Say Sgt. Alex Jimenez, Pvt. Byron W. Fouty Found After Disappearing In Deadly Ambush Year Ago

(CBS/AP)  The bodies of two U.S. soldiers missing in Iraq for more than a year have been found, their families said Thursday night. The military would not immediately confirm the report.

The father of Army Sgt. Alex Jimenez, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, said the remains of his son and another soldier, Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, of Waterford, Michigan, had been identified in Iraq.

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports the families of the dead soldiers said they'd been told their sons' bodies were found by Iraqi authorities and identified by dental records.

Jimenez, 25, and Fouty, 19, were kidnapped along with a third member of the 2nd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division during an ambush in May 2007 that left several other soldiers dead. The body of the third kidnapped soldier, Pfc. Joseph Anzack Jr. of Torrance, California, was found in the Euphrates River in May.

Days after the men disappeared al Qaeda in Iraq posted video on the Internet of what it said was an ambush that killed four U.S. and one Iraqi soldier on patrol 20 miles south of baghdad, reports Palmer. The video also showed the identity cards, credit cards and possessions of three more who - the video claimed - had been captured and executed.

Jimenez's father, Ramon "Andy" Jimenez, said uniformed military officials came to his home Thursday to tell him the body of his son and some of his son's personal effects had been discovered. Fouty's stepfather, Gordon Dibler, said military officials also came to his home Thursday to break the news.

Andy Jimenez told The Associated Press through a translator that the news "shattered all hope" the family had to "see Alex walk home on his own."

"Every day that he's been missing has been a day of `what could have been' ... but after hearing the news today ... I'm still in shock," Dibler said.

The soldiers' families, who had become friends over the past year, were notified around the same time and had been in touch. The Pentagon generally waits 24 hours after notifying the next of kin before making a release public.

Lawrence veterans services director Francisco Urena, who was at the Jimenez home Thursday and translated for the soldier's father, said the family was given no details on the discovery of the bodies or the nature of the soldiers' deaths. Dibler said Fouty's body was found in the Iraqi village of Jurf as Sakhr.

Urena said the Jimenez family expected to receive Alex Jimenez's body in five days.

"He's very thankful for everybody from the community in Lawrence and throughout the U.S. who have provided him support during the difficult time the family has been through during the past 14 months," Urena said of Andy Jimenez.

The soldiers were from Company D, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment - nicknamed the "Polar Bears."

[trishab4]

More blood for the wealth of pro-war LieBerman and Dicck Cheney

[gmond]

Very sad, unnecessary deaths. Hasn''t Dubya got enough revenge for Daddy yet?

[omded]

More meat for the Bush Burgers!!! Chef G.W.''s heating up the grill right now!!! Come and get em''!!!

[pensacola88]

I pray for the family of Andy Jimenez, so they can grieve with an open mind and a peaceful heart and recieve the love of their community in this sad time.

There are no words that can express my thanks to the families who gave their son or daughter in the defense of our way of life. I, too have a son in the Marines. Godspeed to all who fight, win and heal....the only loser was the quitter who gave up.

[omded]

Pensacola88,
Remember that the quitter is still alive. I think he''d rather have you call him a "loser" than be dead. I appreciate your desire to serve our country, and I also appreciate your son''s desire to serve. I''m sure your son is just like the many other terrific kids I know who serve in the United States Armed Forces. However, those terrific kids are being used, and the people who are using them should spend the rest of their lives in jail. This includes the President and many past and current members of his administration.

[irliberal]

Hey there republicans - enough blood on your hands yet? No? You want to invade Iran?

Typical. Better do it fast, because come 2009 you''ll be lucky to have the power get a local traffic ordinance passed.

[brianbwb-2009]

we should erect replicas of the soldier''s headstones right in front of the front door of a certain ranch in Crawford, and wherever he moves to, erect another set there.

[longtree-2009]

Let us not forget they are all volunteers. When you enlist, you know, should know, best know, that you could be KIA, become a MIA or POW. There is no draftee serving in the military today, all volunteers.

Let us not forget they are all volunteers. When you enlist, you know, should know, best know, that you could be KIA, become a MIA or POW. There is no draftee serving in the military today, all volunteers.

Posted by longtree
--------------------
Gee, this makes me feel so much better about it all...unbelievable....

[jeff776]

Polar Bears! RRRrrrrr! RIP

[welshwoman-2009]

Those of you who continue to blame everything on George Bush and the US government, I wish you would move to another country. Your ignorance is appalling and your anger belongs elsewhere. Freedom is not free and you have to fight for it to keep it. Extremists are not happy healthy people and the sick and evil will never stop coming. Open your eyes and see the world as it really is. And Americans sadly enough are becoming less decent and hard working and more ignorant and selfish everyday because everyone is so spoiled. No one likes war, least of all The President and his staff. At least we''re trying to pursue doing something in the middle east which has been war torn and burdened with anger and pain for centuries.

[brianbwb-2009]

"At least we''''re trying to pursue doing something in the middle east which has been war torn and burdened with anger and pain for centuries." Posted by Welshwoman

That''s what you think, Bush is totally at fault, his lies took these soldiers there, where all the war, anger, and pain is none of our business, and even then all we have done there is add to it.

Think a little deeper this time, just what are "we" trying to do there?

[floydzepp2]

Posted by Welshwoman at 06:24 AM : Jul 11, 2008
--------------

What you wish is irrelevant. Get over your self-righteousness. We have a right to express our opinions.

Exactly how is our Freedom threatened again? Explain it to us?

Besides, why, exactly, are you frightened to death by a few thousand tribal level jihadists?

[gocubs58]

Pensacola88,
I also pray for their families, but I have to agree with omded - our brave men and women are being used. bin Laden is still on the loose and we shouldn''t have gone to Iraq in the first place.....

[patriot12436]

Another tragic loss in this needless war. Bless these soldiers and their families.

[patriot12436]

welschwoman
If you think this war is so righteous then why don''t you join the military and go serve there. You should get an education before you voice an opinion concerning everyone elses lives.

[patriot12436]

I would be happy to eract bush''s headstone anywhere. As long as he breathes the lives of innocent Americans are at stake. I hope we get to do the war crime trials with him. He is right up there with Hitler.

patriot12436 wrote:

"Another tragic loss in this needless war. Bless these soldiers and their families."

Well said.

[patriot12436]

Iraq was fighting for hundreds of years before we invaded and will be fighting for hundreds of years after we leave.

[patriot12436]

welschwoman
Those of us who are blaming bush are the ones who have fought and died for this country. You should move with bush to another country, oh wait he can''t find a country that would have him.

[nssherlock1]

Welcome Home. Well done.

[patriot12436]

Who besides bush, his regime and th companies with government contracts is getting rich from this war and the blood of our soldiers ?

[gangesdak]

The President''s children did not go to war. Other young people had to die to keep his ego and honor. This is people''s republic indeed.

[scottyusa]

This is what makes our agonizing over GITMO and our treatment of detainees a joke. Lets hear from the lawyers trying to free these people. Lets hear from the famous organizations like human rights watch decrying america''s treatment of detainees. They won''t even condemn this act. It is best to kill them on the battlefield so the bleeding heart liberals cannot try to free them to fight another day.

[babooph]

Although the propaganda system has worked hard to hide it , both sides seem to be killing war prisoners-[neither side calling them war prisoners},the problem is , the US is supposed to be the good guy.

[chad55555]

I am sure people read between the lines and se whats going on,a leader said his first year in office the American people would not mind paying $5 a gal for gas,before 911 first day in office said he has to finish what his papa started,before 911,then 911 was used to invade the wrong the wrong country(NO WMD''S),should have been Iran. Now were in Iraq gas should be cheaper but it''s going up.Point is the lost of life seems to only helping the ones getting interest from the Middle East oil but were in too deep now to get out, we set the Middle East up for a take over by each other and Russia an China.Going into Iraq has hurt America,people can''t afford gas to go to work and doctor,medicine or the right food to eat or pay for their home.Iraq is the same as it has always been fighting each other.If we leave we have set the stage for American people to be harmed more,if we stay more American military will die,it''s a catch 22 either way we are damned.No matter how you look at it the middle class and poor will become poorer but the ones that put us there will become richer.If we stay a 1000 years,this is NOTHING like Vietnam,Iraq is much worse.

[hungry1968]

This is what makes our agonizing over GITMO and our treatment of detainees a joke. Lets hear from the lawyers trying to free these people. Lets hear from the famous organizations like human rights watch decrying america''''s treatment of detainees. They won''''t even condemn this act. It is best to kill them on the battlefield so the bleeding heart liberals cannot try to free them to fight another day.

Posted by scottyusa at 07:19 AM : Jul 11, 2008





550 people have been freed from Guantanamo out of the 770+ that were taken there.

Are we in the habit of "just releasing" terrorists, are is GITMO used to detain innocent people?

And why are you bringing up this topic, on this page? Iraq has NOTHING to do with the war on terror.

[hungry1968]

We dont have a draft, these people enlist and know what can happen. The President has two daughters, who in my opinion, dont need to go to war. John McCain went to war, got shot down and held as a POW. So, will you be voting for him?

Posted by onlythereal at 07:41 AM : Jul 11, 2008





Will his being a POW help him be a better president?

Over the past two days, how has his position been different (better) in dealing with the whole Iran flare up, BECAUSE he had previous military experience or was a POW?

[christina812]

Gone but not forgot! Your honor and your sacrifices are immeasurable. Thank you for everything you have given to this country. Welcome home and may you Rest in Peace!

[hungry1968]

Notice how nice Democrats are. Dead soldiers mean nothing to Democrats. Everything is a political agenda and another opportunity to spit endless hate and anger about "me" and "What I think". Intellectual Garbage is all the Democrats have while good people serve their country Democrats use death as a political advantage.

Posted by demslie2u at 08:42 AM : Jul 11, 2008





What would you know of "good people" or "serving your country"? And why aren''t you decrying bush for using the 9/11 deaths to his political advantage? That''s a little hypocritical, isn''t it?

[zerato-2009]

It must have been agony for the parents and loved ones of the soldiers to go through the last year not knowing, but suspecting what happened. There wait is over and my heart goes out to them.

[hungry1968]

You notice that not one Democrat Alive has said a bad word about thier friends in IRAN who helped Al Qaeda Terrorist plan and carry out this ambush of American. No, Democrats care about political Agenda not tortured and murdered soldiers. IRAN, Al Qaeda and the terrorists are the good people according to Democrats

Posted by demslie2u at 08:45 AM : Jul 11, 2008





OBVIOUSLY you''re a McCain supporter. You bizarrely believe, as McSame does, that al Qaeda has something to do with Iran.

Maybe you should get your own Lieberman to whisper in your ear: "Shut up! You''re wrong - AGAIN! Iran and al Qaeda hate each other! Iran supports the Shia militias of al Sadr and al Maliki -- NOT al Qaeda!!"

[patriot12436]

I guess welchwoman couldn''t take the heat.

[tootall10142]

COME ON PEOPLE JOIN THE ARMED FORCES MEET NEW FRIENDS AND COME BACK LATER AND KILL THEM.

[superdem]

You hateful Republicans lie when you say Democrats don''t care about the troops, it''s exactly because we care that we want them out of that hell hole. We also want them taken care of properly once they are home, Republicans voted against that. 4,116 dead as of today - no Republican can tell you that number, they don''t want to know. I check it EVERY DAY. But NOW - the Jerusalem Post is reporting the the U.S. is letting the Israeli Air Force use American bases in Iraq to practice flights at night over IRAN to attack their facilities. So not only might Isael get us into war with Iran, we are actively allowing it. THIS IS TERRIBLE. I now believe Israel WILL ATTACK - we have to stop this before it starts !

[kollmuss]

If you withdraw your troops from Iraq, Sgt. Alex Jimenez and Pvt. Byron W. Fouty have been there for nothing, in vain! AND, you know that they are not the only good and brave soliders of your country who have paid the highest price for freedom!

Think of this, when you drink your next cup of coffee.


Andreas Kollmuss
Sweden

[oneopinion]

No one likes war, least of all The President and his staff. At least we''''re trying to pursue doing something in the middle east which has been war torn and burdened with anger and pain for centuries.
Posted by Welshwoman at 06:24 AM : Jul 11, 2008

Honestly, what world are you living in? It''s this type of mindless drivel that leads me to think ballots should be handed out after passing a basic intelligence test. One that shows you can put fact A and fact B together and come up with a LOGICAL conclusion. Dirt plus water equals -- all together now -- MUD! This president and his cronies are war criminals and -- if there is a god -- they will be tried as such. They exploited the tragedies of 9/11 and orchestrated this WAR FOR PROFIT. Please wake up. THEY LOVE THIS WAR. What exactly do you think we''re trying to pursue in the Middle East? The stage is being set to expand this costly nightmare to Iran. If Americans continue to wear blinders and follow these goons in lockstep, God help us all.

[armydog2]

Heartbreaking is the only word I can think of to describe the hell these families went thru for two long years. Putting the lives of our Soldiers on the line in a war that you tell 935 lies to get us into has got to be the most criminal and inhuman thing anyone can do and that is exactly what bush did.
My prayers go out to these two fine Soldiers and their families. Rest In Peace!

[balto_babs]

If you withdraw your troops from Iraq, Sgt. Alex Jimenez and Pvt. Byron W. Fouty have been there for nothing, in vain! AND, you know that they are not the only good and brave soliders of your country who have paid the highest price for freedom!

Think of this, when you drink your next cup of coffee.

Andreas Kollmuss
Sweden

Our troops should never have been in Iraq. We are only there because George W. Bush couldn''t stand the idea that Sadam controlled 1/3 of the world''s oil reserves. Take note than NONE of the children of Bush or his advisors were ever at risk of dying in this war. Over 4000 dead and countless permanently maimed by that I-D-I-O-T oil man. Dubya doesn''t even care enough to provide decent medical care and benefits for the returning soldiers.
These brave soldiers didn''t die "in vain". They volunteered because they knew that the USA is the greatest country in the World and worth defending. Sadly the officials that sent them to Iraq chose to start the only war in US history where we attacked a country that didn''t attack us first.

[antoniof123]

Nice to know the GOP has so many answer and everthing the fiscal family value party of god says is the truth.

If you beleive that I have some land to sell you.

[mrtbob]

We%u2019ve been in Iraq for 18 years and nothing good has been accomplished. If no oil was ever found in this region then this area would be of no interest to us or any other country. As a nation we our wasting the lives of our soldiers in a needless war of greed and misunderstanding of what is really important to us as a nation. We have elected the wrong people to lead this nation and the result of this mistake is now showing up in everything we do and say on the international arena and at home.

[neoconrcrazy]

dying for ones country to protect it from a real threat - is heroic

dying because our "government" says it wants to spread freedom - is dying for the vanity of one man.

the bush war has left over 650''000 dead people -and are we safer?

[oneopinion]

the bush war has left over 650''''000 dead people -and are we safer?
Posted by neoconRcrazy at 11:05 AM : Jul 11, 2008

The Bush War -- What a perfect historic tribute to this greedy moron. 500 years from now, it should be referred to as The Bush War. Let the spilled blood of this nightmare forever stain his legacy.

[brokercooper]

you liberlas are such poor pathetic losers. The scum of this country are the people posting their ignorant blogs on the website. Its a sad article where two heroic men gave their lives for this country. Give your condolences, and enough with the bashing already. You haters have nothing going on in your lives. Its really sad. Sad part is ur probably all pissed we are now in full *** kick mode. Take a report.

[neoconrcrazy]

the use of our brave men and women to fulfill an agenda (taking over iraq), formulated over many years by a very small minority, has been the greatest perversion of executive power ever. Even in Vietnam, we were at least confronting the potential danger of communism - but here we''ve been told its WmD, terrorism, liberation, overthrowing a dicator, transforming the ME - take your pick.

the bottom line is these brave soldiers have been misused and didn''t have to die in iraq because iraq posed no threat to our well-being.

this administration has broken the sacred trust the American people confer to them every 4 years and for that, they will live forever in infamy.

[notblue]

If this story was about gitmo, there would be 1,000 plus hits critisizing America but since it''s just about more of the ongonig attrocities of the radical Muslim extremists and the barbararisms they commit less than 100 posts are offered here at leftwing central, TYPICAL!

[notblue]

It is beyond comprehension that some think ACTUALKLY FIGHTING THE ENEMY makes us "less safe". Good thing our predecessors didn''t take that attitude or We would still be under British rule or speaking German. It is the acme of naivety to think that leaving these Muslim savages alone would make America safer, three plus decades of no response brought us countless attacks and two attacks on the world trade center. THe petty politics and lack of vision displayed by the lfet in this country is staggering and treasonous and is the primary cause of polarization and divide.

[cbsblogger]

God bless these poor souls who along with thousands of others were sent to a war that had nothing to do with the greater good of the USA. They were sent by a corrupt incompetent administration and it will in the end do far more to break the USA bank than help us. It was initiated by the neocons to help Israel.

[hotpaulie]

notblue - What have we really gained by fighting the enemy? Do you think there are fewer terrorists now than in 2001? Has the world''s view of the U.S. improved?

[staycalm]

How devastating this news must be for these poor families. Their sons are heroes who died to keep America safe. Though it is cold comfort, at least they know that their sons did not die in vain. God bless them.