SGT Matt Maupin’s Remains Found in Iraq
March 30, 2008
I have worn a bracelet with Matt’s name on it for almost four years, and was dreading the upcoming anniversary of his capture. I have read everything there is on the internet about him; to know the man whose name I wore on my wrist seemed to be the least I could do. The circle of black metal become a living symbol for me, one of sadness, certainly–but also one of pride, and hope.
Today, I take it off and place it on my desk, where I can look at it and remember him. The tan line on my wrist will fade eventually, but the memory of Matt’s sacrifice, and the horrors he endured for the sake of our nation will live forever in the hearts and minds of those who know the price of freedom. Godspeed, little brother. Your name will never be forgotten. Never.
Kit Lange
Submitted by Johnny Waltz
Right now, words are hard to come by and when I try to grasp my thoughts they seem to escape. For the last four years, there has been a hope deep within the hearts of many people that Matt Maupin would come home alive. The tragic news of his discovery comes nearly four years to the date when Matt was captured on April 9, 2004. His parents, Carolyn and Keith have held strong for these last couple of years and have been staunch supporters of our brothers and sisters in harm’s way as well as disabled veterans like myself. We can say in some ways that there is closure and that we know Matt is heaven. His father Keith said it best, “Matt is coming home. He’s completed his mission.”
I wanted to share with everyone about who Matt was, as a memorial for our fallen brother. Born on July 13, 1983 in Batavia, Ohio, Maupin was a 3.5 grade-point-average student and football player at Glen Este High School in Union Township, Clermont County, Ohio. He was also a rower for Glen Este High School and Clermont High School Crew, whose boathouse is on Harsha Lake, East Fork State Park, Bethel, OH. He graduated in 2001 and enrolled in the University of Cincinnati Aerospace Engineering Program using a scholarship that he received from winning a writing competition. In 2002 he joined the United States Army Reserve and was stationed with the 705th Transportation Company based in Dayton, Ohio
Maupin began basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and continued on to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for training as a Motor Transport Operator (88M). By the time, he had completed training in spring of 2003, the 705th Transportation Company had deployed to Iraq, and Maupin assigned to the 643rd Area Support Group out of Whitehall, Ohio.
While fulfilling his monthly obligations as a reservist, Maupin worked at Sam’s Club warehouse store and continued courses at the University of Cincinnati. In November 2003, Maupin was transferred to the recently mobilized 724th Transportation Company based out of Bartonville, Illinois. Maupin and the 724th TC arrived in Kuwait on February 20, 2004 and on March 5 proceeded to LSA Anaconda, Iraq with the 7th Transportation Battalion, 172d Corps Support Group, 13th Corps Support Command, to begin missions delivering fuel to various coalition installations.
On April 9, 2004, Maupin’s fuel convoy came under attack near the Baghdad International Airport. In what was described as a 5-mile long ambush, the 26-vehicle serial was pummeled by gunfire, mortar rounds, and RPGs, disabling many of the civilian fuel tankers and Army vehicles. After the remnants of the convoy reached safe ground, it was learned that around ten soldiers and civilian KBR contractors were wounded while one soldier and a civilian driver had been killed in the battle. PFC Maupin was among the nine people unaccounted for – seven civilians and two soldiers. One of the missing civilian drivers, Thomas Hamill, had been taken hostage during the ambush and escaped his captors on May 2, 2004. The bodies of five other civilians and the second soldier were subsequently recovered (all are thought to have been killed in the ambush); Civilian driver Timothy Bell remains missing and is presumed dead since he never appeared in a hostage video.
On April 16, 2004, Maupin appeared on a videotape broadcast by the Arabic-language TV network Al Jazeera. The tape, reportedly delivered to the U.S. Embassy in Doha, Qatar, raised hopes that Maupin was still alive. In the video, the soldier identified himself as “Private First Class Keith Matthew Maupin,” a standard procedure followed by prisoners of war in order to protect their rights under the Third Geneva Convention.
Please keep his family in your prayers at this time and as more details come out, I will make sure that I get the news out. God bless America and support our troops by ensuring victory and not defeat. Never let their sacrifices be forgotten or go for nothing.
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God bless you Matt for your service, and may He bring peace and comfort to your family. Rest assured that your name is inscribed in the hearts of many of your fellow veterans and countrymen,and that your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Respectfully,
Ron
“Keep that faith, keep your courage, stick together, stay strong, do not yield, standup, were americans and we’ll never surrender” John McCain “624787″
Damn…
Very sad. I remember the captive’s video and was more than afraid it would come to this. Why’d they have to kill him… Good Bye, Matt. My sincerest condolences to his family.
Rest in Peace my Brother Matt!
And Thank You for your Service!
May you be welcomed by the angels in Heaven to that special place reserved just for men like you!
And Kit, Thank You for remembering my Brother by wearing his name on your wrist these past 4 years!
You are now in the arms of Angels and you will be in the hearts of us all forever. God Bless and Watch over your family and may you rest in peace.
Rest in peaceTrooper, you’ve gone to take a place of honor in the advance party of heros. I swear to do all I can that your sacrifice will not be in vain. I love you.