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May 18, 2007

Hispanic community rallies for missing soldier

Yadira Betances

LAWRENCE | From the corner store, the barbershop and the bookstore, the name Alex Jimenez echoes across Lawrence, accompanied by prayers and wishes for his safe return.

"It's a shame to have someone so young be in harm's way," said Orlando Gonzalez, owner of Bonanza Market on Jackson Street. "I was stunned when I found out. He's one of us and we feel deeply sad about his situation."

Jimenez, 25, an Army specialist with the 10th Mountain Division, is believed to be one of three Americans kidnapped by al-Qaida terrorists a week ago.

Although Gonzalez never met Jimenez because he was already serving in the Army, Gonzalez is well acquainted with his father, Ramon "Andy" Jimenez.

In addition to being neighbors, the older Jimenez frequently stops at the store to chat and buy dinners prepared in the back kitchen.

Jimenez's kidnapping has been the main topic of conversation at the store.

Yesterday, the news out of Baghdad was that U.S. military officials were expressing ''cautious optimism'' that Jimenez and the two other missing soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division can be found alive.

Troops were draining canals and even questioning children in the search, which now includes FBI agents and Australian forensic experts.

Lt. Col. Randy Martin, a U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, said five days of searches have produced a number of leads that "point to the fact that these men are still alive."

Samuel Diaz of Lawrence was one of those lamenting Jimenez's capture.

"It's a puzzling situation for all of us because we don't know what is happening," Diaz said. "I'm not going to say it hurt me like his father, but it hurts deeply because he is one of us; he's a Dominican like me."

Julia Hernandez of Lawrence also was disturbed about the news.

"When I found out, it was like, 'Wow.' This is something that you see on TV, but never think it's going to be from your community. It was hard to believe," Hernandez said.

Jorge DeJesus, code enforcer for the city's Inspectional Service Department, said people on the street are talking about Jimenez.

"People are worried about him because they know the area is dangerous and they have seen the bloodshed and loss of life," said DeJesus, who served in the Army for eight years, but was never in combat.

At St. Mary of the Assumption Church, the Rev. Jorge Reyes recited prayers for Jimenez, saying, "We place our hope in God to keep him safe and that he may return to his family soon."

"We'll continue praying for him and his family," Reyes said. "We cannot let go of our prayers, faith and hope so he can be safe and protected."

The Rev. Victor Jarvis, pastor of Ebenezer Christian Church, will offer special prayers for Jimenez at tonight's services.

"We are very worried and will pray not only for him, but the other soldiers and the innocent Iraqi women and children who have died," Jarvis said.

Jarvis called on churches to pray for government officials in both countries to find an end to the war.

Santos Lopez, a butcher at Bonanza Market, agrees.

"No one wins when it comes to war," Lopez said. "There's been too many lives lost and I see no sense in the war. If their goal was to capture Saddam Hussein, what are they still doing there?"

Ana Rodriguez of Lawrence stopped watching news programs after her son, Humberto Heredia Rodriguez, was deployed to Iraq last August. He returned in March.

"The angst of not knowing is the worst thing," Rodriguez said. "My heart goes out to his mother because this is a devastating situation. I pray that God protects him just as God protected mine."

Rodriguez remembers feeling anxious when her son would not call for days. She calmed herself by rationalizing the situation. "If he hasn't called it is because he's busy."

"I kept my cell phone with me at all times because I did not want to miss his call," Rodriguez said. "No matter where I was, at a meeting or whatever, I would take the call."

Jimenez's kidnapping is not only discussed on the streets and on the pulpits, but also on the airwaves.

Isabel Melendez hosts "The Voice of the People" on WCEC radio, 1110 AM, and said the telephone lines have been inundated with callers offering prayers for Jimenez and his family.

"The response from people has been incredible," said Melendez, director of the Spanish program at Greater Lawrence Community Action Council.

Melendez understands what the Jimenez family is going through.

Her son Jaime Jr., 41, served two tours of duty in Iraq and Kuwait. He was injured and Melendez did not find out about it until someone saw it in the newspaper and told her about it. "That's the moment when you feel helpless, you don't sleep, you don't think straight," Melendez said. "It wasn't until I saw him with my own eyes and touched him that I was calm."

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