Missing U.S. soldier promoted to sergeant
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Spc. Keith Maupin, one of two Americans missing since their convoy came under attack near Baghdad International Airport in 2004, has been promoted to sergeant, the Army said Saturday.
The announcement came after an Army board of inquiry met April 6 to confirm Maupin's status as "missing-captured," his status since he disappeared April 9, 2004, when the fuel convoy he was riding in was attacked by insurgents near Baghdad International Airport.
Missing with him was Kellogg Brown & Root truck driver Timothy Bell.
The military promotes a soldier listed as captured under the assumption the person is still alive. That allows a family to receive their salary and benefits, the Army said in a written statement.
Maupin, with the 724th Transportation Company from Bartonville, Illinois, was classified "Duty Status: Whereabouts Unknown" after the enemy attack. On April 16, 2004, his status was changed to "Missing-Captured."
That was the day the Arab-language network Al-Jazeera broadcast a videotape showing Maupin being held hostage by Iraqi insurgents.
Maupin was promoted in absentia May 1, 2004, from private first class to specialist.
On June 28 that year, Al-Jazeera reported that it had received a statement and a videotape from militants who claimed to have killed Maupin. U.S. officials, however, were unable to identify the man as Maupin.
