Missing Sailors Identified; One Killed

This morning, Military Times reported that the two sailors captured last week by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been identified. One of the sailors was killed in the attack on the two men's armored sport utility vehicle in Logar province, Afghanistan on July 23.

The sailor who remains missing was identified as Petty Officer 3rd Class Jarod Newlove, 25, of Renton, Wash. The Pentagon said that efforts to find Newlove are ongoing.

The sailor who was killed in the attack was identified as Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin McNeley, 30, of Wheatridge, Colo. The Pentagon said McNeley's body was successfully recovered by coalition forces on July 25, two days after the sailor went missing.

Newlove is the third American service members listed as "Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown," or DUSTWUN, along with Army Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured by the Taliban last year, and Army Sgt. Ahmed Altaie, who disappeared in Iraq in 2008.

AMVETS leaders mourned the death of McNeley, but applauded the efforts of coalition forces ensuring he was not left behind. AMVETS also condemned the capture of Newlove and continued to call on the departments of Defense and State to do everything in their power to ensure the safe return of all America's missing service members.

"We owe it to our brave military men and women to ensure that no one is left behind on the battlefield and AMVETS hopes that the Pentagon and the State Department will exhaust any and all resources to make sure our POWs and those missing-in-action are brought home," said AMVETS National Commander Duane J. Miskulin. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Petty Officers McNeley and Newlove, and we hope that Newlove can be found and brought home safely."

The Pentagon said that the July 23 incident is still under investigation and American Veteran will continue to follow the story as it continues to develop.

BREAKING: U.S. Soldier Captured in Afghanistan

This morning, the U.S. military publicly acknowledged that a U.S. Army soldier went missing on Tuesday night in Afghanistan.

This afternoon, CNN reported that the soldier had been captured by "low-level militants" along with three Afghan soldiers. The American was subsequently sold to an anti-American war lord Siraj Haqqani and the Taliban claims he is being held in a "safe location."

Though the Pentagon confirms that the soldier's family has been notified, the soldier's name remains unavailable to the public.

Nevertheless, the thoughts and prayers of AMVETS' leaders go out to the missing soldier and his loved ones as they cope with this ordeal.

Today, there remains one additional soldier listed as missing, Army Sgt. Ahmed Altaie, an Iraqi expatriate who disappeared while visiting with family in Iraq. As always, AMVETS calls on the Pentagon and the Department of State to do everything within their power to bring all of our missing soldiers home safely.

Check back with American Veteran Online for updates as this story develops.

UPDATE: Army identifies remains of Staff Sgt. Vile

Late yesterday, The Department of Defense identified the remains of Army Staff Sgt. William Vile of Philadelphia who was previously listed as "whereabouts unknown" following a firefight in the Konar Province of Afghanistan. Our condolences go out to Vile's family in Pennsylvania and his colleagues in the 1st Infantry Division.

DoD officially updated Vile's status in a release after the Armed Forces Medical Examiner positively identified his remains.

One soldier remains missing in action in the Global War on Terrorism, Army Sgt. Ahmed Altaie. AMVETS continues to call on DoD to do everything in its power to ensure the return of all our service members listed as POW/MIA.