What Happened to Matt Maupin?

Monday, Feb. 14, 2005 By MARK THOMPSON

CAPTIVE A video image taken from Al Jazeera television on April 16, 2004 shows a U.S. soldier who identifies himself as Keith Matthew Maupin held captive by insurgents in Iraq

AL JAZEERA / REUTERS / LANDOV

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Sara Chilewski and Emily Large, both 12, are at the center on a cold Saturday afternoon, punching holes into pictures of Maupin and threading bits of yellow ribbon through them. They've volunteered here before and think it's more important than doing homework or shopping at Eastgate Mall. They believe what they're doing, in some small way, might contribute to Maupin's coming home. "I really want to help him," Large says, "because I know how much the soldiers are doing for our country." Dave Foley, 55, a Vietnam Navy veteran, is amazed at the support the girls and others are offering the troops. "We never got any recognition," he says as he slips photos of Maupin into the plastic badges. "For our troops over there to know they have support in the U.S. is a great boost for morale."

The center's walls are filled with posters and T shirts bearing Maupin's picture. While some parents might not want their lost child staring at them during most of their waking hours, Keith says it soothes him. "Matt is close when I'm here," he says, "because he's everywhere." Keith, who gave up his construction job in July, relies on relatives for his minimal needs. Working full time at the center has given him a mission. It is tough being the father of the nation's only missing soldier, he says. "You don't know what the military is supposed to be doing," he says. "And we don't know what we're supposed to be doing, other than waiting for them to find Matt."

The family has received more than 15,000 letters of support, some addressed simply to "The family of the soldier captured in Iraq, Batavia, Ohio." Other messages have been posted on the center's website (www. yellow ribbon support center. com). Dozens of U.S. troops have responded to the packages. They thank the center for making their stay in Iraq a little easier and pledge to do what they can to bring Maupin home. "Recovering missing Americans is something all service members hold sacred, partly because it motivates us to do our job without worrying whether or not our country will come get us if something should happen: We know they will," a Marine recently wrote from Iraq. "We will continue to fight here, and keep looking for your son." A Thanksgiving Day note from the Army operations center at the Pentagon--signed by 20 soldiers--said they pray daily for Maupin's safe return.

But Keith and Carolyn are growing increasingly frustrated with the Army. "They call and tell us there's no update," Keith says. "We're not getting bummed out. We're actually getting pissed." Every so often Carolyn gets the urge to hunt for her son herself. "But then I realize that's just the anger of a parent," she says. "They tell me Iraq is as big as California. Where would I start looking?" Senior U.S. military officers in Washington and Iraq share the family's frustration. "We keep following up every lead we can," an Army colonel familiar with the search says. "But given the kind of enemy we're dealing with here, we've got to keep our hopes in check."