Thursday, May 24, 2007

SOLDIER'S FAMILY GETS REPRIEVE

Soldier's family gets some reprieve

By Russell Contreras and Raja Mishra, Globe Staff May 24, 2007

LAWRENCE -- A tattoo on the left arm of the body fished out of a river near Baghdad yesterday appeared to rule out the possibility the dead soldier was Specialist Alex R. Jimenez of Lawrence, his family said.

Ramon Jimenez , the father of the missing 25-year-old soldier, said his son did not have any tattoos and had an aversion to body art.

The Jimenez family has been holding anxious vigil since learning last week that Alex Jimenez was one of three soldiers abducted by an alleged Al Qaeda faction.

Yesterday, they were breathing a sigh of relief, tempered with a concern for the families of the two other soldiers also missing. The military had not identified the recovered body by last night, but the Associated Press reported that the aunt of Army Private Joseph Anzack Jr., of Torrance, Calif., said that military officials had told the family it was Anzack's.

Ramon Jimenez said in a conference call with reporters yesterday that he last heard from his son three weeks ago and that friends and family were keeping his spirits up.

"He knows God is going to give Alex back to him," said Wendy Luzon , a family friend who was translating.

Dominican-born Jimenez loved serving in the Army and planned to reenlist for another four-year stint after his scheduled return to Lawrence in June.

Lawrence residents continued to rally around the Jimenez family. The Lawrence Public Schools administration building was decorated yesterday with yellow ribbons bearing the name "ALEX." A banner surrounded by flags on an Interstate 495 overpass asked motorists to "pray for our 'brave hero.' "

"The community is showing their support and praying for a miracle," Luzon said.

Gary Thomas Keating, 57, said Jimenez's disappearance "hits home" because of his Latino background in this majority Latino city. "Here's a boy who offered his service, and maybe his life, because he was welcomed in this country," said Keating. "He didn't have to enlist, but he did."