News-Info-Alerts

Re: MIA/KIA Families Still Wait For Answers

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: June 19, 2003

"507th kin still wait for facts

Laura Cruz
El Paso Times

The families of Fort Bliss' 507th Maintenance Company are still waiting to be told the official story of the March 23 ambush in Iraq, despite learning about the attack from a prematurely released congressional report leaked to the media Friday.

Some family members said the sad and terrifying chapter in their lives will remain incomplete until someone from the Army tells them what exactly happened to each of their soldiers.

"I'm still confused. It's all up in the air, and I'm still waiting for an official from the Army to tell me what happened instead of hearing from everyone else," said Nancili Mata, wife of Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villa-real Mata.

The brief report, which does not identify by name the commander or any other soldier, explains how the commander led the convoy north on a highway across the Euphrates River into the eastern part of Nasiriyah. After the mistake was realized, the company tried to return to the intersection, but the 18-vehicle convoy split into three. The third group took the brunt of a "fierce attack," which left nine soldiers dead, four wounded and six captured.

Mata said she thinks Spc. Joseph Hudson, a former POW, was driving with her husband and could tell her about her husband's last minutes.

"It's very important for me to know because this way I'll have closure," she said.

Ruben Estrella, father of Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, said he's also frustrated with the Army.

"We're disillusioned by the government, by the broken promises they've made to young men and women and to the lack of assistance they've given the families left behind," he said. "I don't think I'll ever be satisfied with what they tell me because my son is dead and is not coming back."

Anecita Hudson, mother of Joseph Hudson, said her son has told her very little.

"He told me he was in a battle before he was captured, and that's when he was shot -- in the battle," she said.

Laura Cruz may be reached at lcruz@elpasotimes.com

© 2003 El Paso Times, a division of Texas-New Mexico Newspapers Partnership."