The Department of Defense announced July 11 the deaths of two soldiers previously listed as "Missing-Captured" while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On July 10, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner positively identified human remains recovered in Iraq July 9 to be those of two soldiers who had been previously listed as "Missing-Captured."
Then Specialist Alex Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Mass., and Private Byron Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Mich., were unaccounted for when their convoy came under attack by individuals using automatic weapons and explosives. Both Soldiers, who were assigned to the Army's 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y., were declared DUSTWUN (Duty Status: Whereabouts Unknown).
Jimenez was promoted to sergeant June 26, 2007. He would have been 26 in 2008.
Fouty was promoted to private first class Nov. 29, 2007. He would have been 20 in 2008.
All family members have been notified of the identifications. Arrangements for their return home are pending.
Every member of the Army lives by the Warrior Ethos, and we will never leave a fallen comrade. It has been a very long 19 months for the Jimenez and Fouty families as well as the military members in Iraq who have spent countless hours searching so they could bring them home. We all feel a sense of loss for these families because Sergeant Jimenez and Private First Class Fouty were members of our Army family. We extend our condolences to them as they transition from the families and friends of a "Missing" Soldier to the families and friends of a "Deceased" Soldier.
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If you have questions concerning the status change, please contact Shari Lawrence, Deputy Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Army Human Resources Command in Alexandria, Va at 703-325-8856 or 703-946-0791 (cell).
If you have questions concerning the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), please contact Mr. R.D. Murphy at 315-772-5461.
The Public Affairs Officer assisting the Jimenez family is Mr. Harry Sarles, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, New York, at 646-639-7496.
The Public Affairs Officer assisting the Fouty family is Maj. Dawn Dancer, Michigan National Guard, at 517-896-0860.
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