More POW's Rescued!

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar (AP) - U.S. Marines have found seven missing U.S. troops on the road between Baghdad and Tikrit, and they appear to be healthy, Gen. Tommy Franks said Sunday.

An Iraqi tipped off the Marines who were near Samarra and were closing in on Tikrit, the hometown of Saddam Hussein, that they would shortly ``come in contact with a number of Americans,'' Franks told Fox News


``I believe our guys picked them up on the road,'' he said.

``I know they're in good shape and I know they're in our hands and under our control now,'' he told CNN.

Franks said he was unsure whether the group was among five listed as missing or seven listed as POWs.

Franks originally said six were found. Central Command later said seven Americans were safe.

Bob Franken of CNN, who was with the Marine 24th Expeditionary Unit that found the Americans, said they were brought to an airfield about 50 miles south of Baghdad in ambulances and all ran or walked to a C-130 transport plane to take them to Kuwait.

Two walked with a limp and one of those was a woman, Franken said.

One of the seven raised his hand in victory, and the woman was carrying her own equipment, he said. Marines nearby applauded as they went past, he said.

Pentagon officials have committed to tracking down 12 soldiers still missing or captured since the spectacular rescue of Pfc. Jessica Lynch on April 1, but until Franks' revelation, there appeared to be no leads.

Franks said he was reluctant to discuss the matter further until he had better information - but he made sure to underscore once again his commitment to rescuing coalition captives.

``For sure we're going to take care of our own,'' he told CNN. ``This is very good news.''

Families of U.S. POWs reacted to the news Sunday with optimism.

``Either way, it's good news,'' said Ron Young Sr., whose son, Chief Warrant Officer Ronald D. Young Jr., was listed as a POW after his helicopter was forced down March 23. ``It gives me hope, it really does,'' he said.

The sister-in-law of Army Spc. Joseph Hudson, a 23-year-old POW who was among the 507th Maintenance Company soldiers shown on Iraqi TV, was optimistic Sunday when she heard some of the troops had been freed.

``I hope it's Joe,'' Bethany Hudson said.

Officials had been sounding an upbeat note in recent days, saying more people were willing to talk and share secrets about potential POW sightings now that Saddam Hussein's henchmen are gone.

``What we're finding now is that the regime has been moved away, people will speak about what it is they know,'' U.S. Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks at U.S. Central Command in Doha, Qatar said Saturday during a briefing. ``And so, we suspect that much of the information that will assist us either in finding prisoners of war from this conflict or previous conflicts ... will come by way of the elimination of the regime.''

Lynch, who was rescued April 1 from a hospital in the southern city of Nasiriyah after an Iraqi civilian tipped soldiers off, became the first POW to return home Saturday.

The United States lists five other soldiers as missing and seven as prisoners of war.

What great news!!! That's awesome. Now we just need to pray that the rest are found alive and healthy!!

Thanks Amy!

Just read on msnbc.com that the found POWs are the same
ones shown shortly after their capture on TV. I am so happy
for them and their families. YEA !!!

An answer to prayers for sure! YAY!

I was thrilled this morning when I read the news that the POW's had been found.

I have never been able to shake the image of the woman out of my mind when they were first captured. I don't think I have ever seen a look of sheer terror on anyone's face before. The news said she had to be taken out on a stretcher to the waiting helicoptor and that she had been shot twice.

I have prayed for these POW's!!

Happy news indeed! I've been praying for them too, gini! They say it was just luck they were found. Of course, I think they were led there by a higher power. It's wonderful no matter how they were found. This is the second time a kind Iraqi has found our people for us. Now if we just find the remaining 6 who are still missing.

Such wonderful news!:) Prayers being said for all the others to be found safe, very soon.

Christine

Thats great news!! :D:D:D I say this on the news, and was like YAH!:D

Their families must be so relieved. I saw it this morning, just before I went into a meeting. At that point they didnt know if they we're the POWs or MIAs... One, Hudson, is from a little town here in New Mexico. Its alll over the news here, as Im sure it is in all the other home towns and states. Such joy for parents and loved ones.

Wheren'y some of them with Jessica Lynch??

Yes, I think so.

Its good to see that we now have all our POW's back....:D

That is such wonderful news,
I can only imagine how their families must feel.

That has been wonderful news to hear!!!!!!!!

Surprisingly, I only found out about this this morning! I'm so happy though, it made me want to cry. It's sooooo good to see that 7 more captured made it back alive. I only hope that it's a sign of good things ahead! I was so happy to hear this!