Mother Clings To Hope
Spc. Alex Jimenez
By James J. Parziale
As each day brings with it the potential for bleak results, Maria del Rosario Duran still holds out optimism for her sonÕs safe return from Iraq.
The latest news about her son, Spc. Alex Jimenez, is that military officials announced Saturday that they found identification cards belonging to the missing soldier on June 9. He was captured along with two other soldiers by insurgents on May 12. Officials said they also found cards belonging to Pfc. Joseph Anzack Jr., who was found floating in the Euphrates River a few days after he disappeared.
Despite the grim news regarding the other captive, DuranÕs faith is unfazed.
ÒWeÕre waiting, weÕre waiting. I think this is good news. Maybe they moved him to somewhere,Ó Duran, a Corona resident, said. ÒIf I continue to hope and hope and hope, then in my mind heÕs still alive.Ó
Authorities said they found the ID cards in an al-Qaeda safe house north of Baghdad. Since his disappearance, a video broadcast by militants on June 4 showed Pfc. Byron FoutyÕs and JimenezÕs identification cards and said they had been killed, but offered no confirmation.
Since JimenezÕs disappearance, his motherÕs home has become a memorial to her son. Photos with him in army garb drape the walls and yellow ribbons are tied to the fence. U.S. and POW-MIA flags also blow in the wind outside the Duran home as she holds onto her hope and resolve.
ÒAlex, we miss you a lot. Come back to our house,Ó she said. ÒGod bless you.Ó