In This New Dawn, Let Us Not Forget Our POW/MIA in Iraq

by Jay Breneman · 2010-08-11 07:01:00 UTC
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September will mark no less than three significant dates for the United States in regard to our presence in Iraq.

Firstly, September 1st will mark the end of the sardonically named “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” and the transition to a reduced (not withdrawal) U.S. presence in Iraq, sanguinely titled “Operation New Dawn."

Secondly (and for which the Bush administration buffaloed our country into invading Iraq), we recall — with great pain — the loss of so many innocent people from the terrorist attacks of September 11th.

Seven days later, we officially remember our missing and imprisoned servicemembers, during our National POW/MIA Recognition Day. In this era of change for military intervention in the nation of Iraq, I hope that we do not forget one of our own, a U.S. soldier missing in Iraq since October 23, 2006.

While on my second tour in Iraq, working as the lead enlisted servicemember in a regional counter-IED intelligence cell, I clearly recall a flash of heightened concern by everyone, but quickly fading weeks later. A dangerous guerilla group had captured a specialist from another Army unit, and most intelligence operations shifted focus toward his recovery. I remember the rapidly developing reports, the satellite imagery detailing his believed location, and the recovery plans.

I also remember when U.S. and Iraqi forces attempted to rescue him, which ended with three dead and six wounded, without the soldier's recovery. Not long afterward, Spc. Ahmed K. Altaie (now sergeant), from Ann Arbor, Michigan, disappeared from our collective awareness, including the mainstream media outlets. This seemed broken, briefly, with a renewed hope after his captors released a video of Ahmed that following February.

This is not an attempt to cast a poor light upon efforts to recover Sgt. Altaie, nor to diminish the lives of others killed, captured, or missing in this war or any other. This is a focus piece on one U.S. servicemember still unaccounted for; and along with all of our men and women in service, he deserves our recognition and attention, particularly with the fading media and political attention on the war in Iraq.

We should do so — regardless of political, or personal beliefs regarding our war in Iraq — just as USO’s motto states: “Until They All Come Home.”

Photo credit: blmurch

Jay Breneman is an Army veteran, having served for 6 1/2 years, with 3 years overseas, including two tours in Iraq.
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