Each State Chapter will receive this graphix with their State
name and Chapter No. already supplied on it. If they so choose to build a website for their State Chapter, they are
free to use any/all of the graphix on this site or any of my other websites for display. They are also permitted to
request specialized graphix for their Chapter as well as individual members.
Contact Information for the Ohio Chapter of the National POW/MIA Awareness Association:
By TERRY KINNEY - Associated Press Writer CINCINNATI(AP) A tip
from an Iraqi helped the U.S. military find the remains of an Ohio soldier captured in an ambush and then shown on Arab television
surrounded by armed masked men nearly four years ago, an Army official said Monday. The parents of Staff Sgt. Keith Matthew
Maupin, who lobbied at the Pentagon and even met with President Bush about their missing son, were told Sunday of the discovery. The
military had received tips through the years from several sources as authorities continued their search for Maupin. "This
last one proved to be the most accurate as we kept getting closer and closer," said Maj. Mark Cheadle, a spokesman for the
Baghdad area command. The tip was first reported by the Dayton Daily News. The remains were found in northwest Baghdad,
Cheadle said, but he could not provide any more details about the tip or when it was received. The Army used DNA testing
to identify the remains, said Keith Maupin, the soldier's father. The discovery of a shirt worn by soldiers at the time Matt
Maupin was captured also helped the Army focus its search. On Monday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed sympathy
to Maupin's family. "This has been especially difficult for the Maupin family because of not knowing for almost exactly
four years. So I want to extend my condolences," Gates said, speaking to reporters aboard a flight to Denmark. The Department
of Defense also announced an official change in status Monday for Maupin from missing-captured to deceased. Maupin
was a 20-year-old private first class when he was captured April 9, 2004, after his fuel convoy, part of the Bartonville,
Ill.-based 724th Transportation Company, was ambushed west of Baghdad.
A week later, the Arab television network
Al-Jazeera aired a videotape showing Maupin wearing camouflage and a floppy desert hat, sitting on the floor surrounded by
five masked men holding automatic rifles. That June, Al-Jazeera aired another tape purporting to show a U.S. soldier being
shot. But the dark and grainy tape showed only the back of the victim's head and not the execution. His father, Keith Maupin,
still is not convinced that was his son. "If that was Matt, I consider that's what God wanted and they couldn't hurt Matt
for a long time," Maupin said Sunday. "It just took them a long time to find him." A month after his capture, Matt Maupin
was promoted to the rank of specialist. In August 2006, he was promoted to staff sergeant. A three-star general discussed
the discovery of the remains with Maupin's parents on Sunday in Batavia, a Cincinnati suburb where their son grew up. On
Monday, Maupin's parents rode as planned in a parade observing the opening day of the baseball season. They plan to continue
using Matt Maupin's name to promote their scholarship fund for children of veterans and the Yellow Ribbon Support Center,
which has sent thousands of goody packages to soldiers. "It was important to be here to let everyone know that we thank
them for their support and their love of our family and for standing by Matt as they are today," Carolyn Maupin said. Despite
a light rain, the Maupins rode in an open convertible and were greeted with applause and cheers all along the parade route. "That
touched my heart," Carolyn Maupin said. "I don't think they'll forget him." The Maupins had lobbied hard for the Army to
continue searching for their son and to continue listing him as missing-captured, fearing that another designation would undermine
efforts to find him.
They received regular briefings at the Pentagon, and Bush met with
them whenever he visited Cincinnati. Keith Maupin said the Army was continuing its investigation. Four
U.S. service members remain missing in Iraq: Capt. Michael Speicher, a Navy pilot, has been missing since the 1991 Persian
Gulf War; Sgt. Ahmed al-Taie, a 41-year-old Iraqi-born reserve soldier from Ann Arbor, Mich., was abducted while visiting
his Iraqi wife in October 2006 in Baghdad; and Pfc. Byron Fouty and Sgt. Alex Jimenez have been missing since May 12, 2007. "After
a long wait, we want to offer our most sincere condolences to Carolyn and Keith Maupin on the loss of their son," said Army
Secretary Pete Geren. "I want to say this once again to the families of our other captured soldiers in Iraq, we will not stop
searching for your loved ones." ___ On the Net: http://www.yellowribbonsupportcenter.com http://www.mattmaupin.us ___ Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Copenhagen, Denmark,
contributed to this report.
I wish to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the plight
of the Maupin Family. Although they have a very good support system of family, friends, and townspeople, it's also important
that all Ohioans stand with them, as well as all Americans! I am providing the banner link to their website, a photo
of 'Matt' Maupin still POW/MIA in Iraq and any/all updates of his current situation/standings/status. At this time,
'Matt' has recently been promoted to Staff Sgt. status and we send our heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to him and to the Maupin
family and crews working to support Matt and his return. We also THANK the United States Army for not forgetting this
young man and Hero! He has faced, and may yet today, continue to face the most horrid challenges known to mankind...that
of being a PRISONER OF WAR. Please join us in praying for his safe and speedy return to the arms and hearts and happy
home of his loved ones! Click on their banner, visit their website, leave them a message of support! Just remember,
what would YOU want if this were your son..........
missing-captured to deceased
In a recent Marine Corps Times article:
Keith, I received my Marine Corps Times magazine this am and in the back there is a section where people
can write in, sort of a letter to the editors type thing. There is a retired Army Master Sgt. Officer who has some shit
to say about Matt's latest promotion. They have even provided a photo of Matt to go with the article. I will
re-type the article below word for word for your convenience.
UNNECESSARY PROMOTION
Prisoner of war Keither "Matt" Maupin has been selected for or promoted to staff sergeant ("Maupin promoted,"
Frontlines, Aug. 28".
When is this going to stop?
When he was captured/went missing/was most likely killed in the ambush three years ago, he was a specialist,
northing extra-ordinary. He was a truck driver doing his job, who happened to be in the wrong place at the right time.
He was promoted to sergeant. The Army does it all the time. Tombstone promotions are common,
especially of the person is one a promotion list.
But now, he will be a staff sergeant. The excuse is he does not have to appear before a promotion
board because he is a reservist. That means he has been in the Army for four to five years.
If his status doesn't change, will he be recommended for promotion to sergeant first class in a year?
I have no problem with the promotion to sergeant, but it should have stopped there.
Army Master Sgt.
Richard W. Smith (ret.)
Vacaville, CA.
To reply using the Marine Corps Times
Letters must include your name, address, daytime phone and rank. Submissions may be edited.
Send to:
Personally speaking, I think he's afraid that Matt will end up out-ranking him! I don't think Matt
was "in the wrong place at the RIGHT time"; I think Matt was in the wrong place at the WRONG time. As far as Matt being
'nothing special'....maybe at the point and time he was captured he was just like any other soldier.......but NOT NOW.
What right does this Army Veteran have to judge Matt or the Maupin family and the suffering they are endurring? Has
Master Sgt. Smith walked in the shoes of either POW/MIA SSgt. Maupin or the Maupin Family?
Master Sgt. Smith is a retiree; why does whatever status SSgt. Maupin have affect him other than quite probably
an attack on his personal pride? There are many of us who feel that Matt is still very much alive. We hold the
HOPE and the FAITH. We have seen not one iota of proof that this is not true. Don't make assumptions and ask that
the Maupin Family or any of their supporters, military family members, friends and supporters, join YOU in giving up HOPE.
We have not, We WILL NOT, until such time as we are presented with one item of solid evidence; which there is NONE as of yet.
Whatever is the status of SSgt. Matt Maupin, HE IS A HERO OF OIF. Whether dead or alive, he faced
a far greater fear, he faced the enemy close up, one on one, he faced evil on a personal level, and we will not give up our
hopes, our faith, and our prayers that RIGHT will win out over evil. Including Matt, and his personal level and battle,
albeit outnumbered, within the real axis of evil.
Sir, you owe America, all POW/MIAs and the families who suffer still today, a huge apology. Also personally
speaking, I don't care what 'name' the Army places on these promotions, you had no right to publish it in a widely read military
newspaper for the Maupin family to read. That's just rude and crude to the feelings and painful hurt they are already
suffering. I don't know how the Army could possibly figure Matt is a 'reservist' when he is still 'in country' in an
active warzone as a POW/MIA. That's about as 'active duty' as one can get and remain.
Diane M. Weller POWMIA ANGEL
Diane,
I did see that article and it didn't take long to figure out to go into a battle of wits with this idiot would be going
to battle with an unarmed man.
He does not know what he is talking about and seems to me to be a self center old has been that will never be a SgtMajor.
He seems to want to take his frustrations out on a man that is not here to defend himself while he is defending this idiots
right to make his petty accusations that Matt doesn't deserve to be promoted. He is the one that didn't deserve to get
promoted and that is why he retired. The Army apparently had no more use for this mans mentality in today's Army and
passed him over probably three times before he finally figured out the Army doesn't want him.
We did call the Army and our contact said he will pass it on to the appropriate people and it wouldn't be surprised it
this E8 didn't get a call from the SgtMajor of the Army real soon.
Thanks for keeping the faith and hope for Matt. He needs to be home but cannot be here until his job is finished.
He will never quit.
SSgt. Keith Matthew "Matt" Maupin Captured 9Apr04 513 752-4310
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php Remember POWs, MIAs News
reports about Army Staff Sgt. Keith Matt Maupin get a lot of attention because he is the only soldier listed as missing or
captured in Iraq. The Army press release announcing his promotion to staff sergeant is notable, though. It demonstrates; in
one simple phrase; the steadfast commitment of the military to account for all of its service members, whether dead and not
recovered or missing in action. This will keep Staff Sergeant Maupin in line with his peers so that when he returns; the Aug.
9 release said; The faith and optimism of the message is clear. Make no mistake about it, the Army intends to find Maupin
and bring him home. And failure is not an option. U.S. soldiers live and breathe the warrior ethos& every day as they
serve their country at home and abroad, in peace and in harms way. They are dedicated to their nation and to each other. And
amid the chaos and confusion inherent to the global war on terrorism, they continue to search for their comrades from this
conflict and from conflicts past. Under the direction of the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office, U.S. government
civilians and uniformed military personnel actively pursue the cases of our service members missing from all of Americas wars.
Diplomats confer with representatives from other nations and negotiate for access to battle sites, and search-and-recovery
teams interview witnesses and conduct excavations in methodical searches for remains or personal effects. Of the 2,646 service
members originally listed as missing from the Vietnam conflict there and in Laos, Cambodia and China, 841 had been repatriated
and identified as of May 1. Efforts continue to account for the remaining 1,805. There are still 78,000 troops unaccounted
for from World War II; 8,100 from the Korean War; and 120 from other Cold War conflicts, according to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting
Command. Teams of Americans relentlessly work in numerous countries to ensure that our nations defenders make their way home.
Sept. 15 has been designated National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Memorials will be held, veterans organizations will hold rallies,
and government officials will make speeches. In Bartonville, Ill., friends and family will come together to remember Maupin
and to pray for his safe return. Every American should take the opportunity that day to pause and reflect on what it means
to be an American service member. Army Capt. Greg C. Reeson Fort Lee, Va; Personally speaking, I think retired Army Master
Sgt. Richard W. Smith is afraid that Staff Sgt. Keith Matt Maupin will end up outranking him [Unnecessary promotion Letters,
Sept. 4] I don't think Matt was in the wrong place at the right time, I think Matt was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
As far as Matt being nothing special maybe at the time he was captured he was just like any other soldier, but not now. What
right does this veteran have to judge Matt or the Maupin family and the suffering they are enduring? Has Smith walked in the
shoes of either Matt or the Maupin family? Smith is a retiree. Why does Maupin's status affect him, other than possibly attacking
his personal pride? There are many of us who feel that Matt is still very much alive. We haven't seen an iota of proof that
this is not true. Former Airman Diane M. Weller West Salem, Ohio In response to Unnecessary promotion whose author considered
Keith Matt Maupin's most recent promotion to staff sergeant inappropriate: Maupin is in a missing-captured status. In accordance
with Army regulatory guidance, enlisted soldiers who are in a missing-captured status are eligible for consideration for promotion.
Maupin met all the requirements for promotion, along with other deserving soldiers in his command who were also selected for
promotion. Maupin will continue to be considered for all favorable personnel actions for which he is eligible while in a missing-captured
status. The Army&s warrior ethos calls for us never to leave a fallen comrade. We will not leave Maupin in thought, word
or deed, and this promotion is just one example of our continuing commitment to him. Finally, all service members should look
upon this action and take confidence that, should they ever be in the same situation, they would receive this same kind of
consideration. Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz Chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general Army Reserve Command The Pentagon
Washington, D.C What kind of price can you put on a soldiers life? A couple of stripes to honor him, but the writer of Unnecessary
promotion didn't feel Keith Matt Maupin was worthy of this? Maupin was captured about four months before I entered Iraq as
a reservist. I have followed this story with hope that maybe he will be returned to us. Leadership is something I live by
when it comes to dealing with my troops. Compassion for my fellow soldiers is also something I live by. Army Master Sgt. Martin
Swiss Franklin, N.J
Ohio is also proud to be the Home State to the famous Drag Race
Car known as the POW/MIA Car where all Ohio POW/MIAs names are painted on the car. The Owner and Driver of the car,
Pam Imhoff, has become a good friend. I hope you'll take a moment of your time to visit her website too. The maintenance
on the car, fuel costs, entrance fees into the races, and so much more, are all paid for directly out of Pam's pocket!
When she tours with the car, that too, comes out of her own pocket. She needs all the assistance, via donations, she
can get; so if you've got the itch, please donate to her cause. We MUST keep the POW/MIA car moving!!
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The webmistress supports Feel Free Graphix. You are more than welcome to right click on any
graphix and "save as" name you decide and save to your computer.
Please spread the word of our Prisoners of
War and our Missing in Action. There are STILL Americans who don't know anything about them! There are Americans who don't
know the true meaning of POW/MIA! TEACH THEM. NEVER FORGOTTEN!!
