WASHINGTON, 26 March 2003 — For the families of seven American soldiers — men and women — captured during the first days of the Iraq war, hopes of a quick and painless conflict have already been wrecked. With US leaders highlighting the overwhelming power of US forces, most Americans were convinced that the war would pass off without a hitch.
On top of the several prisoners, including one woman soldier, several are listed as missing and 11 are confirmed dead.
But the shock of learning that their loved ones had fallen into the hands of the Iraqi military could not have been greater.
“This was not something that we thought was going to happen to her at all,” a tearful Nikki Johnson, sister of Shoshawna Johnson, a woman soldier captured by the Iraqis, told CNN. “Stay strong, keep your dignity,” was her advice to her sister, who was captured after the army truck she was traveling in took a wrong turn in southern Iraq.
Support groups run by the wives of soldiers at the front have been set up to help the families of the captured, the missing and the dead. While Johnson’s family saw images of her which had originally been aired on Iraqi TV, the family of Patricia Lynch remains uncertain about her fate. “I just want them to bring her back safely, her and all the rest of the kids,” said Lynch’s father in their home in Palestine, West Virginia.
Kaye Young, mother of Ronald Young, one of two Apache helicopter pilots captured and shown on Iraqi television, was also overcome by the news. “I know he is prepared to give his life for his country. He supports the president, he thinks he is a great leader.”
“We know that God is on our side and he will look after my son and others,” said David Williams, father of the second Apache pilot, also called David Williams. As he spoke to reporters, Williams’ smile was sad and forced as he told how he had not spoken to his son since mid-February.
Anecita Hudson first knew of her son’s capture via the television.
“I asked myself: ‘Why is my son on television?’” she said. Hudson said she could not understand what was happening. “I guess they’d be proud that they captured some Americans, and one of them is my son.”
“He looks OK, But I can see in his face that he’s confused and scared,” she added.
Martha Gardner knew the pain and uncertainty of awaiting news of a missing loved one before her son Michael Gardner, a Marine, was captured in Iraq. Her husband was held prisoner for a year during the Vietnam War. “It was hard then, and it’s hard now,” she told the New York Times.
According to the Pentagon, seven US troops have been captured in Iraq. Several others are missing and eleven have been killed since fighting began nearly a week ago.
