A call from Keith Maupin on Sunday carried a voice that was a bit sad, angry and confused. He had received a call from the Army stating that,”Remains of your son were found and verified through DNA”. He had yet to let his wife know and had to call his other son who is a Marine stationed in California.
His son Matt was captured April 9 2004, Iraq and even though shown on all the networks being held by Al Quida,Terrorists, insurgents or whatever term is in use today. Matt was declared “Missing-Captured”, Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown. His protection under the Geneva Conventions for a captured American Soldier was Canceled with a simple change in terminology.
Maybe the time is right for a “Declaration Of War” on Al Quida, Osama, Terrorists, Insurgents. Lets ALL go to War. We hear the term daily but what does it mean? If we Declare War then we all shall know. I’m for it..I’m against it!! Lets Declare it so as to feel it.
Sgt. Matt Maupin will receive(His Family Will) the POW Medal (plus others) BUT was never allowed to be known as a POW…Prisoner Of War.
ALL for the Declaration, Please raise your hand. Don’t see many out there..BUT..it’s for those Son’s and Daughter’s we SAY we care so much about.
Blessings and Comfort to the Maupin Family,
Bob Jones
Northeast POW/MIA Network
Meredith
May God bless the Maupins and give them peace knowing
that Matt dwells in the house of the Lord forever!
~ Sue Peterson, Proud (2) Blue Star Mother
At the 2007 NH Freedom Ride, Sue Peterson a NH Blue Star Mother read a letter written by Carolyn Maupin to her son. At the time Sue and Bill Peterson's own son was deployed to Iraq.
To everyone here today,
I do ask that you do not forget our son SSG Matt Maupin who is lost in Iraq.
Dear Matt:
There are so many troops looking and praying for you to be found. Matt we are so proud of you and I cannot wait to see you and put my arms around you to tell you how much I have missed you and tell you how much I love you.
I know you are doing your job and until it is finished you will not be home. I am praying for you everyday to stay well and look to God for comfort and strength in this situation.
There is a vision I have Matt, that when you return home and travel from the airport down 275 there will be a few people with lighted candles but as soon as you hit the Clermont County line both sides of the expressway will be lined with people holding candles to light your way home. What a sight that will be!!
Also, there is a song that was written for your homecoming that says this country will ROAR! I believe this is going to happen too. Please remember Matt, not only does your family want you home but your country does to. Until we meet again my son, thank you for what you do for us each day.
May God Bless and keep you.
Love,
MOM
The Final Roll Call
We thought of you with love today But that is nothing new.
We thought about you yesterday And days before that too.
We think of you in silence We often speak your name.
Now all we have are memories And your picture in a frame.
Your memory is our keepsake With which we’ll never part.
God has you in His Keeping We have you in our Heart.
"But they that wait upon the LORD
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as EAGLES
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint"
Isaiah 40:31
A message from Karen Stevens, Nat'l Chaplain/PNP of the
Blue Star Mothers of America:
Blue Star Sisters,
A range of emotions was experienced as we received the word this week that Matt Maupin will be coming home covered by the flag. For his parents, Carolyn Maupin and Keith Maupin, the last four years have been a roller coaster and with this news comes the shock of reality, grief and final closure.
Many of you supported the Maupin family through prayer, cards, and words of encouragement. We grieve with the Maupins on differing levels and experience a sense of loss. Rest assured that we stand together supporting one another through every loss. I encourage each of you to continue to offer this support to one another and especially to the Maupins at this time.
SSGT Matt Maupin was captured on April 9th, 2004. It's ironic that April 9th has been declared the day to Honor our Fallen. I'm requesting that you mark your calendar or post a note to remember this day. Let's all honor Matt by remembering his sacrifice as well as that of his family this coming Wednesday, April 9th. Our POW is coming home as we stand true to our commitment that NO soldier will be left behind. Please stop for a moment on Wednesday and remember all our Fallen and Gold Star Families. If we all stop at noon, wherever you are, we will have hours of prayers and remembrances being felt across our great nation.
Cards and letters can be sent to Carolyn Maupin and Keith Maupin at the Yellow Ribbon Support Center, 700 S Eastgate Blvd, Suite 430, Cincinnati, OH 45245. Please send condolences to each individual (Carolyn and Keith are no longer married), Carolyn, Keith and brother Micah.
Anita Wagner will be preparing Memory Books and is requesting your input. Please send your condolences to firstvp@bluestarmothers.org
Thank you for your support,
May God Bless each of you,
Karen Stevens
Nat'l Chaplain/PNP
WE MUST NEVER FORGET
April 9, 2008
Good afternoon my friends....
Today, 4 years ago, Matt Maupin was taken POW. As you know, his remains were found and his parents, Carolyn and Keith, were notified on 3-30-08. The funeral will take place on Sunday, April 27th in Ohio. I ask that today you remember Matt and his family. Those we hold most dear never leave us. They live on in the kindness they showed, the comfort they shared, and the love they brought into life. I pray that all the precious memories that are dear to the Maupins will give them comfort in the days, weeks, and years ahead.
Above is a video of Matt....WE WILL NEVER FORGET - UNTIL THEY ALL COME HOME....(we also will not quite fighting to get the classification changed from DUSTWUN to POW/MIA - what do you recognize??)
In May of 2005, I wrote a poem about, then MIA/POW, Matt Maupin.
Remember My Face
It’s been so long now I can’t help but feel,
my life is all over, is this all really real;
I’ve been a prisoner for such a long time,
no one left behind, was that just a line;
They beat and threaten my life with a shive,
name, rank, and serial number, that’s all I give;
Does anyone even remember my name,
or am I a soldier and prisoner of little fame;
How much longer will I be held in this place,
my name is Matt, do you remember my face;
I’m an American soldier who willingly served,
I can’t help but thinking this is so undeserved;
Have I been abandoned in this horrible place,
will I die and disappear without leaving a trace;
What about my buddies, who fought at my side,
are they still fighting, has the war turned the tide;
Will they come for me and free me from this fate,
or will I die in this place a victim of fanatical hate;
The country I love and served with such pride,
has it turned its back on me now, has it lied;
Please don’t leave me behind, it would be a disgrace,
my name is Matt Maupin, please, remember my face?
~ by devildog6771 on May 28, 2005.
Today I want to share another poem I wrote since word of Matt Maupin’s
recovery was announced March 30, 2008.
SSgt Matt Maupin
POW/MIA? April 9, 2004
Homeward Bound at Last
I’ve spent nearly four years in this barren place,
do people back home still remember my face?
How is my family doing back home?
Have they been left to grieve all alone?
So many times I thought, finally I’ve been found,
as I heard familiar voices approach from all around!
With rescue eminent, I would shout out my name,
I am Matt Maupin, do you remember my name!
Have you come to rescue me true to your word,
Have my cries for help finally been heard?
You kept the promise, “no man left behind.”
The faith I clung to wasn’t just blind!
Then as the voices slowly faded away,
I knew that rescue wouldn’t come this day!
Gradually each time as hope began to fade,
was the command to end search finally made!
Wait, again, I think I hear that familiar sound,
American soldiers’ foot steps and voices all around,
The sand and dirt around me begins to move away,
Yet I am afraid to believe I am found on this day!
Thank you God for looking over me I begin to cry,
as I feel myself lifted and I look toward the sky.
I reflect on my journey these last four years past,
and offer prayer to God I’m “Homeward bound at last!”
A note from Keith Maupin ~
I don't know if anyone will get this or not but we wanted to tell all those in NH that the support you showed for Matt and us was truly vital in getting Matt home. I told the Army many many times that there are more people and vets across the United States and around the world that are watching how you handle Matt's case. I told them that if I would not be here tomorrow there are millions that would take up the reins and keep on them like ugly on a ape until they brought Matt and the others home. My mission in life was to get Matt home and with your and people like Bob Jones's words kept me focused on that mission. It is now complete and we had taken up another mission. That mission was to get Jimenez and Fouty home. I believe the work that we all did over the past four years gave them the way to complete that mission as well.
From the bottom of our hearts, Thank you for the continued support and prayers for Matt and us. Prayers do work and I believe Matt is proof of that. Till they all come home,
Keith Maupin
SSG Keith Matthew "Matt" Maupin
Captured in Iraq 9 April 2004
POW/KIC (Killed in Captivity)
Known Only To God
