Lawrence soldier's funeral slated for Friday

July 23, 2008 06:38 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By Globe Staff

The remains of a Lawrence soldier who was missing in Iraq for 14 months will be returned to the city Friday for his funeral, military officials said today.

Sgt. Alex R. Jimenez

Staff Sergeant Alex R. Jimenez, a member of the Army's 10th Mountain Division, was listed as missing in action on May 12, 2007. He was captured after his convoy was ambushed as it traveled west of Mahmudiyah, Iraq, the military said in a statement.

Four soldiers were killed in the attack. Jimenez was captured along with two other men. The body of one of the others was found later in the Euphrates River. The bodies of Jimenez and Specialist Byron J. Fouty of Waterford, Mich., were found west of Jurf As Sukhr on July 8.

Jimenez's family had agonized over his possible fate, while the Army searched for the two soldiers. The family's hopes were dashed earlier this month when they learned Jimenez's remains had been found.

A wake will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; a funeral Mass is scheduled for noon Saturday at St. Mary's church, 205 Hampshire St.

A second service will be held on Aug. 2 in Long Island, N.Y., where Ramirez's mother lives, before he is buried in Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, N.Y., said Major Lisa Ahaesy, a Massachusetts National Guard spokeswoman.